Masonic Intelligence.

The M . W . G . M ., enquired of the G . Sup . of Works , if any progress had been made in the improvement . Br . Hardwick replied , that the alterations in tho lighting were completed , but the hall , he was happy to say , had been so fully engaged by public and private parties , that the operations of the workmen , with regard to the ventilation , had been somewhat impeded ; nevertheless , it was making very satisfactory progress . The

M . W . G . M . having described a very simple method of ventilation ( consisting of a shaft separated into two , by a division up the centre , the hot air being carried off by one half ^ of the shaft and cold air admitted by the other , ) which he had seen in operation in Yorkshire , and which he stated answered most perfectly , the minutes of the last meeting were confirmed . On the motion of Br . Joseph Smith , seconded by Br . Dr . Jones , the right honourable Br . the Earl of Zetland , M . G . W . M ., was put in nomination as G . M . for the ensuing year , without opposition , no other brother being proposed . The minutes and accounts of the Lodge of Benevolence , and Board of General purposes , were then read and approved .

THE PATRIOTIC FUND . _ The M . W . G . M . next rose and said , ho had to express to the brethren who had put sum m nomination for re-election as G . M ., his high sense of the honour conferred upon him , and to assure the craft ,, that should he be re-elected , he would use his best exertions to promote the interests of the Order . He had now to propose to them a resolution , which it was not without great hesitation and mature consideration he had determined to bring forward , it being , that the Grand Lodge should take part in that national

great object , the raising of the Patriotic Fund —( Cheers ) . His hesitation had arisen from feeling that , properly , the funds of the Grand Lodge were not applicable . or anything but purely Masonic purposes . This , however , was no ordinary occasion , and he felt sure , that the Grand Lodge , for the honour of the craft , would feel that they ought to do something , not only for the brethren of the Order , but for those soldiers , sailors , and marines , who were now fighting for the honour of their country , and especiall for the widows and orphans of those who miht fall in the discharge of

y g their dut y —( Cheers ) . At the same time , he thought it most desirable that they should take every precaution to prevent such a vote being drawn into a precedent , in cases of future appeals to public charity . When , however , they saw all classes of their fellow subjects pressing forward with energy and zeal to support the fund established for the relief of ine widows

and orphans of those who might be removed from this world whilst fighting in a just and good cause , he thought that every good Mason woidd agree with him , that the Masonic body ought not to be behind hand , in evincing their sympathy with the movement—( Cheers ) . Therefore , after the deepest consideration , he had come to the conclusion , that this was such an exceptional case that the Grand Lodge might , with propriety , subscribe to the fund—( Cheers ) . Thattheywould have additional claims upon their own charities for aid to the widows and hans of brethren who might perish

orp m the conflict , there could be no doubt . That , however , he considered would be no reason , seeing the general feeling which existed on the subject , why they should not subscribe to the general fund . The result of their doing so must be , to raise the craft in the estimation of the public . Some of the private Lodges , he was pleased to see , had not been backward with their subscriptions , and he felt assured that if the Grand Lodge headed the list , the example would be liberally followed by the private Lodges , all of the There

m parts country . were Lodges in which , perhaps , there might be no available funds for the purpose , but to those which were in the habit of having banquets , when they met , he might suggest , that the giving up one banquet would at once produce sufficient to evince their feeling with the movement . It was not , he thought , going too far , to express his belief that every Lodge would contribute something , and though the amount from each might appear comparatively small , yet , when added together , it would be something considerable . He would , therefore , at the next quarterly communication of the Grand Lodge , move , that viewing with approbation the fund now raising under the denomination of the Patriotic Fund , for the relief of