The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

GRAND LODGE . The quarterly communication of Grand Lodge was held on Wednesday . The throne was occupied hy the Bight Worshipful the Earl tie Grey ancl Ripon , D . G . M ., who was supported by Bros . Hall , Prov . G . M . of Cambridgeshire , as D . G . M . ; A . Perkins , P . G . W ., as S . G . W . ; J . Havers , P . G . W ., as J . G . W . ; Tompkins , G . Treas . ; M . -T . M'lntyre , G . Reg . ; J . LI . Evans ,

President of the Board of General Purposes ; Clarke , G . Sec ; Head , Webb , and Simpson , G . D ' s . ; Rev . J . Huyshe , G . Chap . ; Woods ancl Nutt , G . Dirs . of Cers . ; Patten , P . G . S . B ., as G . S . B . ; Cockerell , G . Supt . of . Works ; FarnBeld , Assist . G . Sec ; Stimpson , G . Org . ; Dickie and Farmer , G . Purst . There were also present—Bros . Dobie , Prov . G . M ., Surrey ; Bagshaw ,

Prov . G . M ., Essex ; Fleming , Prov . G . M ., Isle of Wight ; Hammond , Prov . G . M ., Jersey and Guernsey ; Colonel Bowyer , Prov . G . M ., Oxfordshire ; Roxburgh , G . Reg . ; Rev . Riland Bedford , P . G . Chap . ; Potter , TJdall , J . 2 S . Tompkins , Savage , S . B . Wilson , W . P . Scott , L . Cromhie , ancl Capt . Creaton , P . G . D ' s . ; Jennings , P . G . Dir . of Cers . ; Bridges ,

Pullen , ancl Walmesley , P . G . S . B . ' s ; Smith and Adams , P . G . Pnrsts ., and about one hundred ancl fifty other brethren . The Grand Loclge having been opened in due form and with solemn prayer , The G . SECRETARY read the minutes of the quarterly communication of the 2 nd September .

Bro . SAVAGE , P . G . D ., rose to oppose the confirmation of a portion of the minutes having reference to the re-constitution of the Board of Benevolence , the motion for which was passed in a very thin Grand Lodge at nearly eleven o ' clock at night , when many of the members were absent . He was opposed to giving to committees any such powers as were contained in

the motion , and therefore he was desirous to stop it in limine . It was all very well to entrust a committee with the arrangement of details , but he contended that it was utterly opposed to all principle to refer the question of the construction of the Board of Benevolence to a committee . If they were to refer a matter like this to a committee , they would be at onee driving a nail into the coffin of the Board of Benevolence .

If the principle set forth in the motion were to be argued , let it he done in Grand Loclge ancl not in a committee . It was said that it was hut a motion for inquiry , hut he ( Bro . Savage ) asked them to stop the inquiry at once . Ho hoped that tho Grand Loclge would not confirm the minutes having reference to this motion , having respect to tho privileges of each lodge

to send its representative to the Board of Benevolence . He did not mean to say that the Board of Benevolence was a perfect institution , but he did not believe that they would ever make it perfect by the means which Bro . Stobbing hacl proposed , as the whole management of it would fall into the hands of a small board . Therefore he repeated that it would

he most unwise if the Grand Loclge were to sanction a question like this going to any committee whatever . If it was desired to give the Board of Benevolence greater powers , that was a question upon which he would not give any opinion . If they , too , wanted to have a permanent chairman of the Board of Benevolence , he would not say whether he was in

favour of it or not , but he had his own opinion upon it , although he would not then give it . Were they to sanction this motion , it would he the complete destruction of the present board , and the formation of another on very distinct principles . He hoped they would not allow the Board of Benevolence to become a small board , ancl thus take tbe privileges from all other lodges

all contributing to the fund , and according to all acknowledged principles , they hacl a right to have a voice in spending it . He moved as an amendment that thafc portion of the minutes having reference to the appointment of a committee to consider the constitution of the Board of Benevolence be not confirmed . Bro . HAISEY , P . M . of the Caledonian Lodge , seconded the amendment .

Bro . STUBBING said he was very sorry that Bro . Savage wasiu such a state of alarm at the motion which he had proposed ,, but in that respect he found himself in the same situation as all other brethren who , like himself , ventured to propose improvements for consideration , which was all that he had asked of the Grand Lodge . He had given notice of them in the widest manner he possibly could , and there was not one

member of Grand Lodge who did not fully know what was s ubmitted for their consideration . Tlie motion was only one for inquiry and not for legislation , and he felt assured that an enlightened ancl intelligent body , like Freemasons , need not be afraid of any inquiry , however deep they might dig to the root of truth or error . By the constitution of the committee , he

( Bro . Stebbing ) had shown that he wished for a fair and impartial inquiry . Their timid brother ( Bro . Savage ) was , however , opposed to this committee , although it did not ask for legislation , and only sought inquiry . Bro . Savage was disposed to stop even inquiry , and ifc appeared to him ( Bro . Stebbing ) he ought to have lived in the time of Canute , when it was

proposed to stop the rolling title , wich was as vain as to attempt to stop inquiry into truth . Bro . Savage said the committee would determine the question , but he again asserted tha * it was not a motion to determine anything . If by inquiry they could put the Institution on a surer basis , let them do so . If

the structure was ricketty , let them repair it and make it more secure . As to the objection raised , that they should not spend money without all contributing to it having a voice in spending it , such a proposition could not be entertained ; for , if such a principle were to he carried , every Mason throughout the country must he called upon to come up to London and to decide how the money was to be expended . ( "So , no . ) If ifc

meant anything , it meant ,. supposing a lodge consisted of a . hundred members , that they should come up every quarter of a year to London , and to say how the money was to be expended . He was opposed to the antiquated notion that the committee were not to inquire , or that the subject should not be well circulated and ventilated . He should not go into the

committee with any preconceived notion , ancl he hoped that the Grand Lodge would not elect any one to serve on it who had preconceived opinions . He strongly urged that there should be an inquiry into the constitution of [ the Board of Benevolence , and he had no doubt that the result would he for the good of Freemasonry ancl honour to themselves .

The R . W . D . G . MASTER then put the motion that so much of the minutes of the last Grand Lodge as regarded the appointment of a committee to consider the constitution , duties , and powers of the Board of Benevolence he not confirmed . The motion was carried by a large majority .

NOMINATION or THE GRAND MASTER FOE THE Exsuma YEAK . A Brother , whose name we could not ascertain , said , —I have the honour to nominate the Right Hon . the Earl of Zetland as Grand Master for the year ensuing . I have long known him , and whether in his public or private capacity , he has always proved himself a true Mason ancl a true Englishman . Therefore

I have great pleasure in proposing the Earl of Zetland as Grand Master for the year ensuing . ( Loud cheers . ) The R . W . D . G . MASTER : It is my duty to ask if there is any other proposition . To this question there was no response .