Original Correspondence.

Masonic position to be countenanced ? I think it certainly should not be , and for many reasons . What freedom of opinion or power in debate is to be expected from any man wdto has to rely upon a continued connection with any party lo ensure his appointment to or continuance in

office ? What an amount of evil is likely to creep into any council where a certain subserviency to the views of others is almost expected under pain of ommission from the next "ticket ? " I think the matter ought to be taken up seriously , as one of very considerable importance .

Of course I am quite prepared to have this letter attributed to personal chagrin at my 11011-eleetion , but , as I would rather have my thirtyfour unasked supporters than all the canvassed votes of Grand Lodge for any purpose , I am far better satisfied to defer my entrance amongst

the Board of General Purposes until next election . J am , dear sir and brother , Yours fraternally , J AMES STKVKXS . P . M . vVC , 2-j , 720 , -71 , 1216 " .

United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE GRAND LODGE .

Ut'VRTHRLV Cu . VIMt'Ml ATI OX , ] V X Ii yt'tl . The following speeches of Bros , j . R . Stebbing , and P " . A . Philbrick , delivered in Grand Lodge , the former opposing the report of the Board oi

General Purposes , and thc latter defending it from the attacks made on it by the movers and supporters ol" the amendments , were omitted from our account of the proceeding in last week s issue , and we now irive them / '// cxlcnso .

Bro . J . R . Stebbing , who had risen some time before , came forward from his place on thc das to the front , and was received with great cheering . He said—my lord , I wish to make two or three remarks to Grand Lodge , although I would wish

to consult their natural desire to divide . I have 110 doubt they will reject this ill-considered report and its conclusion , and ! beg to call your attention particularl y to an observation of Uro . Havers , and to point out the difficulties that would arise

from officers in Grand Lodge holding prominent positions in other degrees signing such a document , it would be a great mistake for such a document to be signed in the . name of die Grand Lodge of Phigland , when this very report leaves

out theonly salaried brother who signs documents in the name ot the Grand Lodge of England , a most inconclusive and weak report , ill-digested and unworthy of this Grand Lodge . The best thing is to dispose of it so that we may never

Iiear of it again . 1 say do not receive the report after the condemnation it has received from Uro . Havers , and my lord , and from many of the brethren who have spoken showing the little inclination they have towards il , a report which

all condemn as a weak , inconclusive and imperfect report . I . say get rid of il and do not let us ever hear of il again . I do not go into the question of these hig h degree . ' , I will not debate on any thills' so unsound , but on the constitutional

position of Masonry and the folly ot opening questions that were settled at the union , and raising questions calculated to disturb tlie peace and the unanimity of Grand Lodge , questions ivhleh will sever one-half of the brethren in

England from the other half , and raise a question , one which I know exists in your minds to a great extent , and affecting many ol ' the brethren on ( he . dais . If the subordinates arc I ... be struct at , why not the Chanel Sect elan If > t F

- ¦ vrong that they should participate in - . chat .- ' . re callecpthe hi g h degrees , it is equall y wrong tor any of us to do so . They have our money : wc Jiave that which we generall y value more , we have tlie Jionours ; and if it is wrong of them to

participate in the high degrees , it is equally wrong for us . It is time to speak out , because you are starting at the very lowest part of the fabric in order the better lo let it < ro down rather than dare

to look in the face of those above . What has made many of us go into the oilier degrees but ( oenli g htcn our mindsontliosubjeot of Masonry ? I have gone into other degrees and have given

United Grand Lodge.

most of them up , some of them I have , stuck to . and I say , do not deprive these paid ollicers ol the opportunity of doing that which you have done , do not fix a ban upon them because they do it . In these days of freedom , do not go and put a padlock on the lips

and a chain on the fingers ot the paid oiucers and leave out the Grand Secretary , whether it be the Grand Secretary , or his successor , because you are not always to be served by the same man . The injudicious proposition made to you is one that strikes at freedom , and opens a

question among the brethren that ought never to have been raised , and cannot be raised without doing mischief lo the Craft . As far as loyalty is concerned , there are none more loyal than those who practise the hi g h grades . There are many of the veiy best men in the Craft vvJio

have taken many other degrees , and the highest honours in those degrees . There is no man in the Craft , and no man in the hig her degrees , who is more venerated than the Grand Master of England . You recollect the manner in which

he was received on a recent occasion by the brethren , the majority of whom belong to these hi g her-degrees . How did they receive him ? They received him as a god , he inarched through the ranks like a god . He was venerated because he was at the head of the old Institution

of Masonry , that is dear to every Mason . I . say , do not think of adopting a report which cripples the freedom of Masons , for you will be dealing a death blow to Ihat freedom if you do not shatter this proposition by your vote . Bro . Stebbing , who spoke with much

vehemence , accompanied with great dramatic action , was vociferous !} ' cheered during the above speech .. Bro . F . A . Philbrick' :-- 'Most Worshi p ful Grand . Master , as a member of the Hoard of General Purposes , who took nail , in the

report that was brought up at the last Quarterly Communication , and took part in the reconsideration of the matter , and who was a party to the unanimous vote of the Board , at which Bro . Horace Lloyd was not present , I venture to say lo Grand Lodge , that you would

be committing the most unheard ol injustice to the members of the Board of General Purposes if you were to receive their opinion as being the opinion not to bind , for il was not the intention of the Board of Genera ! Purpose" ; nor their desire to bind Grand Lodge to do more ( ban this ,

to receive it as the ( pinion ol the Hoard , and to act upon it just in the vav that this Grand Lodge in its wisdom mi g ht feel disposed to act . I will not read the resolution again that has been relerred to , but one thing I do say , and 1 think 1 may say it , although I am not permitted to

speak as the representative of the Hoard , but for myself I say , that to me and to every other member of the Board , I believe this resolution , which was referred to them by Grand Lodge was a source of the greatest anxiety . It was referred simply , so we were told once here ,

because we . were your servants , and not your masters . We accepted the position . We entered 011 thc discussion . You asked lor our opinion , and such as it is , good or bad , the opinion is out honest opinion , careluily considered at yotii request , and deliberately adhered

to on the- fullest reflection . Whether thai opinion be wise or not , is for you to discuss ; but that you will reject it as being cur opinion , not that you will adopt it as your own , or reject it as your own , because that you will discuss is a course that I scarcely can believe , this Grand Lodge

will adopt . I trust 1 ma ; , 'be -pardoned for referring to one thing more . One brother on the dais , who addrcs-ed Givul Lodge , spoke about diil ' er- cut jurisdictions , 'nde ^ ofHca brother spoke about ur . 'id . d allegiance . ' . l r , . i . ' , l ! . rnav be permitted j to say , there is not a word in tho report , net was I

there an idea on tile part of the Board of General Purposes , about limiting the freedom of every brother , to belong to any Masonic organisation thathe pleased , which was not inconsistent with the obligation he had taken , and to which , in his

conscience , he thought he might lairlv and honestl y belong , consistent with his allegiance 10 the Craft . There has not been the least attack on the part of" the Board ol General Purposes , to limit the absolute freedom of every member of the Craft ; and I cannot help thinking that when

United Grand Lodge.

these unhappy discussions—that is the proper term they merit—are raised , it is time they should be put an cod to , and that tin ' s Grand Loth-v , or the Board of General Purposes itself should no longer be troubled with what must be considered by every one a source of

embarrasment and difficulty . Allow me to say one other word , and 1 will trespass on the time of Grand Lodge no longer . Thc other paragraph at the . end ol the report was considered a mere matter of office regulation . It was adopted b y the Hoard , not in the capacity of revising the acts , or

having the care , or superintending the conduct of Masons , but rather in the view- that there were , those in the employment of Grand Lodge , which employment was inconsistent with the employment of other functions , and that it was ri ght to see that those wlio were in that positionwith

, regard to the employer , were in no other position which mi ght render the employer either subject to remarks , or his acts be liable to misconception . That may or may not be a wise opinion . I have heard criticisms made to-ni ght with a skill that a veteran di plomatist mi ght envy . That was not

the view- of the Board of General purposes . They expressed their opinion according to the desire of Grand Lodge , and it was inexpedient to do more . What Grand Lod ge may do upon that is a matter for Grand Lodge itself to decide .

upon ; but I do confidentl y appeal to that sense , ol justice , which every assembly of Phiglishmeit is open , to accept our opinion . whieh is at least an honest one . Do not reject it , but take it as being the opinion of those who are bound to express it when they are asked for it . ( Great eiieen ' mO

Visit Of The Channel Fleet To Liverpool.

VISIT OF THE CHANNEL FLEET TO LIVERPOOL .

In the course of their summer cruise , the Channel Fleet , under the command of Rear Admirals Hornby and Campbell , will visit the Mersey towards the endof this month . Am on est

ihevesseisjwill be the Minotaur , Northumberland , 1 lercules , and Sultan , and the visit is anticipated with much interest b y all classes of tlie community . It is just ten years since the Channel Fleet , under Rear-Admiral Dacres . arrived in thc

Mersey , during the Mayoralty of Mr . R . C . Gardner . Thc chief magistrate then entertained the . ollicers and men in the most hospitable manner , A fancy dress ball was given at the Town Hall to the ollicers , who were also invited .

lo balls at the Wellington Rooms , Philharmonic I fall , . vie . During the stay of the licet , if was calculated thai there were 110 fewer than <; . 3 , 000 visitors . During the recent Royal visit , Bro . John Pearson ( the Mayor of Liverpool ) excited

general admiration b y his munificent hospitality and unwearied exertions in connection wilh the interesting event , there is every reason and believe that he will again earn " golden opinions " by bis dibits in maintaining the credit for kindness of the " good -old town . "

The Henry Blagrove Testimonial Fund.

THE HENRY BLAGROVE TESTIMONIAL FUND .

of subscribers , and who would regret missing flu : opportunity ol so doing , we may mention thai : subscriptions are still received by the J ! or .. Treasurer , EJJW VK r > T 11 c i-: x VM , Esu ., Norfolk Villa , levigate The lisi will , hi : closed s !„ . nl ' . —This fund has now reached nearl y fjiioo . As it is possible tliere are friends of . Mr . B ' agVove who have not yet added their names to the list

! s . e . rrevealivc aivl aaia > y'be : ai : e m-aeaca . 1 . e . doi a . 1 disease is apt to o \ eitakc the sensible , Icenle , aiiil con-ctutionally delicate , at thc .-e periods . The .-e p i !! -. a : c particularly recommended for .-illayia ;/; tee lia-t s \ nij ( "in- , ol disordered action , anil rcpics-ing tin- fir . 't c . a-siachme-a ! of ill-health . A cau-fnl perusal of the "inei ; . aliens , '' io' 1-

cd round every box of I lollowny ' s I'ill-., will explain what , the difficulty is , and how it can last i . e ieioe . ee I . The body will l . e freed not onl y from disease , but tee l-lo .-. l will he p'a . - ' ilied and enriched t ,, ri > ii ;_; ii tlie ti . u . ou . rh concoction , aail assimilation of t ' -, e food , ensured hy the ire of this inedieine aeeordia ;; - to the piain . eonsi-teat . , | , oai . I'lete , Uuvaiuiis , ititeilietble viiiat b ) uii dliiics . — . l ( iu ,