United Grand Lodge Of England.

United Grand Lodge of England .

'"pHE Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge Avas held J at Freemasons' Hall on Wednesday , March 2 nd , and as on the last occasion when a contest took place for the office of Grand Treasurer , the meeting Avas called for tAVO o'clock in the afternoon . The Pro Grand Master , Earl

Amherst , occupied the throne . After the reading of the minutes , so far as they related to the election of Grand Treasurer , Bro . Leivis Ferguson expressed his dissatisfaction with the report of his speech at the December communication of Grand Lodge in

nominating one of the candidates for Grand Treasurer , but it \ vas pointed out by the Pro Grand Master that it did not affect the accuracy of the minutes .

AV . MHO . K . J . CASTLK , K . C . Bro . Ferguson , P . M ., then briefly proposed Bro . G . F . EdAvards , P . M . 766 , for election as Grand Treasurer . This Avas seconded by Bro . J . H . HaAvkins . Bro . Thomas Fraser , P . M ., proposed Bro . Fitzherbert Wright , P . M . 1324 , and the proposition Avas seconded by '

Bro . Walter Potter . The Pro Grand Master then declared the poll open , and during the afternoon the scrutineers Avere kept busily occupied in checking the qualifications of those brethren Avho in large numbers availed themselves of the opportunity of recording their votes before the evening sitting of Grand Lodge .

At six p . m . the Pro Grand Master re-occupied the throne , and Avas supported by the Deputy Grand Master , the Rt . Hon . T . F . Halsey , M . P ., while R . W . Bro . George Richards , District Grand Master of the Transvaal , acted as Past Grand Master . The Temple was then filled to its utmost capacity , and the

voting proceeded until 6 . 30 , when the poll was declared closed , and the scrutineers who had been appointed to examine the voting cards were obligated to give a true report of the result . The Grand Secretary then read the remaining portion of the minutes of the last communication , which were put and carried .

W . Bro . E . J . Castle , K . C , P . M . 2076 , in proposing H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn for election as Grand Master , said they all knew his

Royal Highness , and it would be impertinence almost on his ( Bro . Castle ' s ) part to attempt to magnify his position . It had been announced that day in the

papers that his Majesty had been pleased to appoint the Duke of Connaught to the highest

position in the Army . It was a matter of congratulation that he who Avas at the head of their Order should be chosen for the position of Inspector-General and President of the Selection Board

, and he hoped the Duke ' s success in that office would be as great as it had been in Masonry . Since his Royal Highness , on vacation of the office by the King , had

held the position of Grand Master , the increase of Masonry had been continuous , the Charities had been Avell supported , and the lodges had been kept up

and maintained , while the personnel of the body had attained a higher standard than in former

years . He hoped for many years to come some one would rise in that place and propose his Royal Highness as Grand Master , and that on all future occasions it would be received as cordially

as he trusted it would be now . W . Bro . Warrington , K . C , P . M . 2456 , in seconding the proposition , said he felt quite sure that after the speech which they had just heard , no words of his were required to

render it more acceptable to Grand Lodge . He should , therefore , content himself , as he would , no doubt , content the M . W . Pro Grand Master and Grand Lodge , by simply seconding the motion , and expressing his appreciation of the great honour that had been conferred on him , as Avell the pleasure he had experienced , in being permitted to do so .

The Pro Grand Master then declared his Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn elected by acclamation . Bro . Frank Richardson , P . G . Reg ., acting as Grand Director of Ceremonies , proclaimed his Royal Highness in accordance with the usual form , adding to the titles those