Grand Lodge.

The widow of Bro . James J . AAood , of the Boyal York Lodge of Perseverance ( No . 7 ) , London £ 30 Bro . Samuel Jones , of the St . Andrew ' s Lodge , No . 222 ) , London 30 6 . The report of the Annual Audit Committee of the Grand Lodge Accounts for the year 1 S 65 . V . The report of the Board of General Purposes to the United

Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England was as follows : — «• The Board of General Purposes beg to report that there has been brought under their consideration the propriety of making an increase in the salaries of the brethren employed as clerks in the Grand Secretary's Office , by reason of the great increase of

work in the office . The brethren referred to comprise Bros . Buss , Little , and Pendlebury , and also Bro . Payne , the Grand Tyler , many of whose duties are those of a clerk . Bro . Buss was appointed clerk in 1 S 55 , at a salary of £ 113 . This was increased to £ 150 in January , 1850 .

Bro . Little was appointed Clerk in October , 1862 , at a salary of £ 2 2 s . per week , being £ 109 4 s . a year , at which amount it remains . Bro . Pendlebury was appointed Clerk in April , 1 S 64 , at a salary of £ 100 a year , at which amount it remains . Bro . Payne was appointed Grand Tyler in November , 1856 , at

a salary of £ 84 , at which amount it remains . The appointment of two additional Clerks ( Bros . Little and Pendlebury ) was rendered necessary by the large increase of work consequent ou the progressive increase of income , involving a very much large correspondence , more book-keeping , and general office business . The Board are of opinion that , notwithstanding such appointments , the labours of the other clerks

have been considerably augmented , and are increasing with the growing prosperity of the Grand Lodge funds . Grand Lodge will not fail to notice that the increase , since the appointment of Bro . Pendlebury as an additional Clerk in 1 S 64 , is very large , and the labours of all the Clerks are therefore constantly becoming greater . The Board believe that the services of the several Clerks are

efficiently performed . "Under the above circumstances the Board are of opinion that an increase in the salaries of the Brethren employed as Clerks in the Grand Secretary ' s Office may fairly be agreed to , ancl they recommend to Grand Lodge as follows : That the salary " of Bro . Buss be increased from £ 150 to £ 200 a year .

That the salary of Bro . Little be increased from £ 109 4 s . to £ 135 a year . That the salary of Bro . Pendlebury be increased from £ 100 to $ 115 a year . That the salary of Bro . Payne be increased from £ 84 to $ 100 a year . ( Signed ) J . LUDWEELVS - EVAM , President .

j ? reemasons' Hall , February 21 , 18 G 6 . To the report is subjoined a report of the Grand Lodge accounts at the last meeting of the Finance Committee , held on the 15 th of February ult ., showing a balance in the hands of the Grand Treasurer of £ 2 , 700 14 s . 10 d ., and in the hands of the Grand Secretary for petty cash £ 50 . Of these sums there

belongs to the Fund of Benevolence £ 1 , 481- 5 s ., to the Fund of General Purposes , £ 585 19 s . Scl ., and there is the Unappropriated Account , £ 680 10 s . 2 d . 8 . The report of the Building Committee to the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England was as follows : —

The Committee regret much to state that tho progress of fee buildings lias been little , if at all , more satisfactory than 52 SS been previously reported . According to the terms of Mr . Eider ' s undertaking the whole Masonic portion of the new building ( or that which will constitute "Freemasons' Hall" ) should be completed ( with the exception of painting ) by the 24 th of this month . There is no

prospect of its being so completed within three months . According to the terms of the same undertaking the contract No . 3 , which includes the kitchen and great banqueting room of the new tavern , should have been carried up and roofed in by the 15 th of this month . It will probably be at least tivo months before this work can be completed .

The committee have spared no pains , and have left untried " , no means to induce the contractor to proceed with even moderate diligence ; the penalties for non-performance are at the rate of £ 100 per week on each contract ; the committee have given the contractor notice that the penalties on K " o . 3 contract commenced to accrue on the loth inst ., they will give a further

notice in reference to penalties accruing on No . 2 contract OE and after the 24 th inst ., and it will only remain to the Committee to enforce the payment of these penalties . The committee have experienced very considerable difficulty ., owing partly to the illness of Bro . S . B . Wilson , and partly to other causes , in obtaining any account of extras and additional

works , and it is only since the commencement of the present year that they have been able to obtain such accounts . The committee regret very much that in spite of alliheic efforts to the . contrary , very considerable additional expenses have been incurred , and that the amount of sucli additional cost will fall very little short of £ 5 , 000 . This sum however includes , as far as the committee can ascertain , every expense

connected with the building over and above the contract price . Of this large sum it is to be understood that there is a considerable proportion which does not belong to the building proper , and that in several instances the additional cost could not have been foreseen or provided for in the estimates . Of the total amount , the sum of £ 2 , 42 S 5 s . 8 d . has been incurred for extras or works not contemplated at the

commencement of the building . These extras include the sum of £ 86 © lis . lid . for underpinning old walls , extra depth of drains and walls , pumping , & c , consequent upon the nature of the soil and upon permission having been given to carry the drains into the Middle Level Sewer . They also include the sum of £ 3 S 0 paid to the Board of Works for making a junction with the Middle

Level Sewer , and for diverting at their cost a drain from New-Yard which formerly passed under the ground now occupied by the new buildings of the society ; the extras also inclnde the surveyor ' s charges , a portion of which belongs to all the other ; measured works , and should be distributed equally over them It is also to be observed that the total amount includes the

sum of £ 949 16 s . 7 d . expended in putting new floors to the Sussex and Glee-rooms , in constructing bed-rooms in the tavern , ancl in repairs to roof of tavern aud great hall , all of which were absolutely necessary and must have been incurred under any circumstances . There is also included a charge of £ 1 , 135 19 * . for stoves , gas ,

fittings of Clerks ' office , and expenses attending removal ; and lastly , there is included the expenses attending the ceremony o £ laying the foundation stone , including platform , temporary approaches , & c , amounting to the sum of £ 239 . It will be in the recollection of Grand Lodge that Mr . Malby occupied a workshop in Middle Yard belonging- to the Society , upon lease , of which there were 31- years unexpired , and that it was most necessary to obtain possession of this workshop , £ E