United Grand Lodge.

proceedings , and Bro . Brackstone Baker having seconded the resolution , it was put and carried unanimously . The Grand Registrar then moved— " That the Book of Constitutions , page 4 G , article 4 , be altered by expunging the words ' until the next meeting of tbe Grand Lodge , '" in the course of which he explained tbe inconvenience incident to the

working of the existing rules . The proposition was seconded by Bro . Llewellyn Evans , President of the Board of General Purposes , and was carried unanimously . The next business was the " Election of the committee of Past Masters , upon the motion of Bro . James Stevens , P . M .

No . 720 , respecting the uniformity of working . " The Grand Secretary read the list of names , which , from its length , elicited considerable signs oi disapprobation .

Bro . Stevens , who seemed suffering from indisposition , m moving that the list be adopted , enlarged upon the advantages to he derived hy tho carrying out of his proposition , and stated the reasons which bad guided the selection of the proposed committee .

Bro . Raynham W . Stewart seconded the proposition , and thereupon a forest of opponents arose ; some against the proposition itself , and others against the constitution of the committee . Bro . J . Savage proposed another list of names , in substitution , of less number , and suggested calling in the aid of tbe various " Preceptors " and the representatives of tbe different " systems ''

of working , which by Bro . Stevens had been intentionally avoided , so as to leave tbe committee free to seek such advice as they might think proper , untrammelled by prej udice in favour of any particular spstem . Bro . TJclall , who was almost inaudible , made some other proposition respecting the number and constitution of tbe committee .

Bro . Matthew Cooke spoke , much to the purpose , though the gist of his observations appeared to be that the only body competent to undertake the duty would be one which should come npto his idea of perfection . Amongst the qualifications required by Bro . Cooke in each individual member may be enumerated tbe following , viz .: that all should be eminent literati ; that they

should have an intimate acquaintance with the liberal sciences . that they should be men of retentive memories ; and that they should be thoroughly acquainted with all the different rituals extant , of which he could shoio them more than 100 .

Several other brethren spoke , when Bro . Horace Loyd , in an excellent speech , moved an amendment , which was seconded by Bro . Ilenisworth , that the subject be reconsidered . Bro . Llewelyn Evans here rose , but was quite inaudible . Bro . John Havers summed up the whole of what had been said on each side , aud also gave bis own views on the subject ,

and stated his conviction that no beneficial result would arise from the consideration of tho matter in tbe way proposed . Several ago years he had acted in the capacity of moderator or referee between the exponents of tbe different systems in use in London , and after giving particular and diligent attention to the subject , the result was nil .

The mover of the resolution , Bro . James Stevens , addressed the Grand Lodge in support of his motion , and the vote being taken upon the amendment of Bro . Horace Lloyd , it was carried .

The report of tho Board of Benevolence was taken as read , and ordered to he entered upon tbe minut & s . The several grants of money were put seriatim , and passed as follows : —

United Grand Lodge.

The widow of tho late Bro . H . W ., of the Royal Oak Lodge , No . 871 , Deptford £ 50 0 0 The widow of the late Bro . E . G ., of the Lodge of Fidelity , No . 269 , Blackburn 40 0 0 The widow of the late Bro . W . J . N ., of the Robert Burns Lodge , No . 25 . London 30 0 0

Bro . R . L ., of the Lodge of Australia Felix , No . 474 , Melbourne , Victoria 50 0 0 The six orphans of tbe late Bro . E . H ., of the Union Lodge , No . 129 , Kendal 30 0 0 The widow of the late Bro . T . H . W-, of the St . Andrew's Lodge , No . 222 , London 50 0 0

Tho vote of £ 30 to six orphan children , was the subject of special mention , and several members of Grand Lodge expressed regret that the sum was not larger . The report of the Board of General Purposes was then presented , and it was moved by Bro . J . Llewellyn Evans , President , to be taken as read , and was ordered to be entered on the

minutes . To the report was subjoined a statement of the Grand Lodge accounts at the last meeting of the Finance Committee , held ou tbe llth Fehruary , 1870 , showing a balance in the hands of the Grand Treasurer of £ 2 , 628 9 s . 4 d „ and in the hands of the Grand Secretary , for petty cash , £ 75 . The report of the Special Meeting of tho Royal Masonic

Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and the Widows of Freemasons , on the 22 nd July , 1869 , was laid before Grand Lodge , and after a short discussion was referred hack . The report of tho Committee of the Fund of Benevolence was then brought forward hy Bro . Clabon . The several items thereof were read by Bro . Clabon , and after some discussion

were carried separately . The report of Bro . P . P . Harding , Auditor of Grand Lodge accounts , of receipts and disbursements during tho year 1868 was approved , and ordered to be entered on the minutes . A memorial from the Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lancashire against certain proposed alterations in the rules of

the " Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemaons and the Widows of Freemasons , " was mentioned , but by consent was referred to the Committee of the Institution . A motion by Bro . Joshua Nunn , G . S . B .: — " That provided the

resolution , proposed by the Committee on tho Fund of Benevolence , to replace the last paragraph of No . 6 Fund of Benevolence ( in the Book of Constitutions ) , be passed by Grand Lodge , " " That the form of the certificate required to be sent to Lodge of Benevolence with all petitions ( and to be signed by tne visitor , a member of the lodge , or some other brother ) bo

referred back to the said committee on the Fund of Benevolence for details and adjustment . " This was caviled . The uext motion was that of Bro . J . Rankin Stebbing , P . G . D .: — " That in the opinion of this Grand Lodge , no future Grand Master should hold that office for more than five years in suecession , unless in the case of a Royal Prince . "

At an early period of the discussion wliich followed , it appeared that the notices of motion given by Bro . Raynham W . Stewart , and Bro . John Savage , respectively , had in the Grand Lodge club meeting , been withdrawn by consent , leaving Bro . Stebbing ' s motion alone in the field . AVe cannot however as previously stated , give even a fair abstract of tbe discussion

which followed , within ordinary limits . We may state , however , that amongst several excellent speeches that wero made , those of tbe mover of the resolution , and of the seconder , Bi-o . F . Bennocb , in favour of it , and those of Lord de Tabioy , Bro . Brackstone Baker , and Bro . John Havers , against it , wont so