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... THE Fredericksburg Lodge , No . 4 , Grand Lodge of Virginia . Centennial of . , , , 1 1 ¦ theGX . celebrated its centennial on January 31 st , and a long and mof Virginia . teres ( - - g ,. account was wired to the New York Herald for its

issue of the following day . The present charter of the lodge dates from the year 1787 , hence the festival ; but the lodge itself existed many years before then , having been working under dispensations and other warrants . Records are still preserved , running so far back as 1752 , GEORGE WASHINGTON having been initiated under the protecting wing of the lodge on

November 4 th , 1752 , and was passed and raised m the following year—these important facts being proved by reference to the minute books . A charter was obtained from the Grand Lodge of Scotland on July 21 st , 1758—so we are told ; but we fail to find it in the list of warrants appended to the Book of Constitutions of that Grand Lodge published in 1848 . The document is

declared to have been addressed to Colonel THORNTON , Master , and other brethren , " and is now in the possession of the lodge in a good state of preservation . " A number of the records of the lodge were unfortunately destroyed by the Federal troops under General BURNSIDE , which is much to be regretted , as they extended from 1777 to i 860 . We are glad to be told ,

however , that the minutes "from 1752 to 1775 , showing WASHINGTON ' connection with the lodge , and also the Bible upon which he was obligated , were saved . " At the banquet , Grand Master REID responded to the sentiment " To the Memory of GEORGE WASHINGTON . " This was followed by another— "To the Memory of MARY , the mother of WASHINGTON , " but

no word was said in relation to his father . The W . M . of Alexandria Washington Lodge responded to the cordial greeting given to the mention of No . 22 , as the great General was its first Master . All the "sentiments " were most appropriate , " toasts " apparently being unpopular in the United States , and the concluding one— " Auld Iang syne ; where now are the friends of my youth ? "—brought the eventful proceedings to a close .

United Grand Lodge Of England.

UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND .

The following is the business to be transacted in Grand Lodge on the 2 nd prox . : — 1 . The minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the ist December , 1886 , will be read and put for confirmation .

2 . Election of a M . W . Grand Master . 3 . Election of a Grand Treasurer . 4 . Report of the Board of Benevolence for the last quarter , in which are recommendations for the following grants , viz . : — The widow of a brother of the Manchester Lodge , No . 170 ,

London ... ... ... ... ... £ 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Samson Lodge , No . 166 S , London 50 o 0 A brother of the Lodge of Unanimity , No . SQ , Dukinfield ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the John Carpenter Lodge , No . 1097 ,

London ... ... . .. ... ... 75 o o A brother of the Bank Terrace Lodge , No , 4 62 , Accrington ... 50 o o A brother of the Lodge of Industry , No . 186 , London ... ... 75 o o A brother of the Lodge of Probity , No . 61 , Halifax ... ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Duke of Connaught Lodge , No .

1524 , London .. ... ... .,, ... 50 o o A brother of the Globe Lodge . No . 23 , London ... ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Kent Lodge , No . 15 London ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Eccleston Lodge , No . 1624 , London ... ... ... ... ... 50 o o A brother of the Harrogate and Claro Lodge , No . 1001 , Harrogate 75 o o The widow of a brother of the Royal Jubilee Lodge , No . 72 ,

London ... ... ... ... ... 50 o o A brother of the Oriental Lodge , No . 687 , Constantinople ... 50 o o A brother of the Prince Leopold Lodge , No . 1588 , Stretford ... 75 o o A brother of the Alexandra Lodge , No . 985 , Holbeach ... 50 o o A brother of the Bangalore Lodge No . 1043 , Bangalore ... 60 o o

5 . REPORT OF THE BOARD OP GENERAL PURPOSES . To the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England . The Board of General Purposes beg to submit a statement of the Grand

Lodge accounts , at the meeting of the Finance Committee , held on Friday , the nth day of February instant , showing a balance in the Bank of England of £ 4615 14 s- 7 d-, and in the hands of the Grand Secretary for petty cash , ^ 100 , and for servants' wages , £ 100 , and balance of annual allowance for library , £ 2 is . 3 d .

( Signed ) THOMAS FENN , President Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , 15 th February , 1887 . 6 . Report of Bro . John Smith , Auditor of the Grand Lodge accounts , of receipts and disbursements during the year 1886 .

7 . NOTICES or MOTION . 1 . By Bro . C . W . MEITER , W . M . Mizpah Lodge , No . 1671 , Londonist . That , in order to perpetuate the memory of the Jubilee of the glorious reign of her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria and Empress of India , it be resolved that the Grand Lodge of England do prepare forthwith a foundation stoneand the same be

con-, secrated by our present Most Worshipful Grand Master , H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , K . G ., & c , or his nominee in London . The foundation stone to be ultimately firmly placed , if possible , upon the ground in , or near , the original site of King Solomon ' s Temple in Jerusalem , and that the rebuilding of the said Temple as a "House of Prayer for all Nations " shall be proceeded with as soon as necessary funds be provided .

2 nd . That with a view of providing the funds as speedily as possible for the rebuilding of King Solomon ' s Temple as a " House of Prayer for all Nations , " it be resolved that all present at the consecration of the foundation stone by the most Worshipful Grand Master shall be allowed to place contributions on the stone , the same to be publicly acknowledged ; that the stone shall remain in London for a given time , the general public to enjoy the same privilege of subscribing and placing their subscriptions on the stone as those present at the consecration .

The foundation stone to be then forwarded to the principal cities of the United Kingdom and other Countries , and that the custodians , composed entirely of Free and Accepted Masons , to be nominated by the Grand Lodge of England , shall be

United Grand Lodge Of England.

responsible for the safe custody of the stone , and the amounts placed thereon or otherwise subscribed for this object at each resting station , and to forward all contributions to the Treasurer , or as may be directed by order of the Grand Lodge of England . 2 . By Bro . EDWIN THOMAS BUDDEN , P . M . Lodge of St . Cuthberga , No . 622 , Wimborne , Dorsetshire .

That the new Rule No . 30 S in the Book of Constitutions being at variance with , and contradictory to , the old Rule No . 288 in the same book , the said Rule 308 be forthwith repealed . 3 . By Bro . WILLIAM NICHOLL , P . M . ^ Lodge of Affability , No . 317 , Manchester : —

ist . That Past Masters shall be entitled to wear a distinctive collar . 2 nd . That the Board of General Purposes be , and are hereby authorised and empowered to determine , and they shall so determine whether such distinction shall be silver cord in the centre , or whether it should be cord or braid or lace on the edges , and that they re-arrange Article 307 accordingly , and report .. the same in Grand Lodge in June next . 3 rd . That Past Masters , duly qualified as members of Grand Lodge , shall be entitled to wear such collar on all occasions when Craft clothing may be worn .

4 th . That Masters and Wardens when visiting officially , as enjoined in Article 1 49 , may wear their collars and jewels of office , and shall wear them in Grand and Provincial and District Grand Lodge . 5 th . That , by dispensation , full Masonic clothing may be worn by all officers whereever they are permitted to be present . 6 th . That the Board of General Purposes be requested to redraft Article 30 S accordingly , and report to next Quarterly Communication .

By Bro . J AMES STEVENS , P . M . The Macdonald Lodge , No . 1216 , Camberwell : —•

That Article No . 153 of the General Laws and Regulations for the government of the Craft , which declares that " All lodges held within ten miles of Freemasons' Hall , London , be London lodges , and are to pay the London fees and dues , " be repealed . 5 . By Bro . J . CLEVER , P . M . Lodge of Amity , No . 171 , Greenwich—That one thousand pounds be paid from the Fund of General Purposes of this Grand Lodge to the funds of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and the Widows of Freemasons , to assist in placing extra annuitants on the funds , in view of the large number ( 130 candidates ) seeking election in May next .

6 . By Bro . WM . NICHOLL , P . M . Lodge of Affability , No . 317 , Manchester—That the Board of General Purposes be requested to examine into the laws relating to the elections of all elective officers . Boards and Committees in Grand Lodge , and to report to next Quarterly Communication whether it is desirable or practicable to adopt some system of voting by proxy papers , or otherwise , not necessitating personal attendance of brethren from a distance .

That Article 75 Book of Constitutions be referred to Board of General Purposes for the purposes of ascertaining if it is possible to remodel and simplify and render it more workable as to the mode of recording and counting the votes in Grand Lodge .

List of brethren nominated for the office of Grand Treasurer : —¦ Richard Eve , l . P . M . No . 165 , London , Prov . S . G . W . Hampshire and and the Isle of Wight . Nominated by Bro . George Alexander Vennell , W . M . No . 165 , London . Augustus Frederick Godson , M . A ., M . P ., P . M . No . 1097 , Tenbury , D . P . G . M . for Worcestershire . Nominated by Bro . Robert Berridge , P . M . No . 21 , London .

List of lodges for which warrants have been granted by the M . W . Grand Master since the last Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge : — No . 21 S 3 , The Royal Hampton Court Lodge , Hampton Court , Middlesex . „ 2184 , The Royal Victorian Jubilee Lodge , Tilbury , Essex . ,, 2185 , The Ardwick Lodge , Ardwick , Lancashire ( E . D . ) „ 2186 , The Striguil Lodge , Chepstow , Monmouthshire .

„ 21 S 7 , The Adur Lodge , Henfield , Sussex . „ 2188 , The Kerala Lodge , Calicut , Malabar Coast , Madras . ,, 2189 , The Ashbuiton Lodge , Ashburton , Devonshire . ,, 21 9 , The Savage Club Lodge , London . „ 2101 , The Anglo-American Lodge , London .

„ 21 9 , The Highbury Lodge , Highbury , London . ,, 2193 , The Queen ' s Jubilee Lodge , Nelson , Lancashire ^( E . D . ) ,, 2194 , The Golden Bay Lodge , Takaka , Nelson , N . Z . ,, 2195 , The Military Jubilee Lodge , Dover , Kent .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

ANNUAL FESTIVAL . The Annual Festival of this Institution was held at Freemasons Tavern , Great Queen-street , on Tuesday last , under the presidency of Bro . W . Wither B . Beach , M . P ., R . W . Prov . G . M . Hants and Isle of Wight . The gathering was one of the largest on record , so large , indeed , that an " overflow " banquet had to be held in another room , the Great Hall being filled to its utmost capacity .

In proposing "The Health of Her Majesty the Queen , " the CHAIRMAN said that the feeling that promoted loyalty in the breasts of Englishmen arose from the firm belief that under a constitutional monarchy we enjoyed more real liberty than falls to the lot of other nations of the earth , and that

that feeling was intensified by attachment to our Queen . During a long reign of now 50 years she had so discharged her high duties that she had attracted to herself the love and affection of her people . The toast having been drunk with enthusiasm ,

The CHAIRMAN proceeded to propose " The Health of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M . ; the Princess of Wales , and the other Members of the Royal Family . " He said that the Prince of Wales had ever shown himself ready to promote every useful institution that could conduce to the welfare of the people , and also willing to support every Charity

in his power . In these days , when in some countries Freemasons were found to be connected with certain nefarious projects , English Freemasons might well congratulate themselves that the Prince of Wales had p laced himself at their head , and during that period the manner in which

Freemasonry had increased was the best testimony to the manner in which he had ruled over them . The son of the Prince had been introduced into Freemasonry , the Duke of Connaught also had taken a hi gh position in the Craft ; and he need only mention the name of the Princess of Wales to awake the enthusiasm of Freemasons .

In proposing " The Health of the Right Hon . the Earl of Carnarvon-M . W . Pro Grand Master , " the CHAIRMAN said the Prince of Wales found it necessary to have associated with him an able coadjutor , In the Earl