United Grand Lodge.

Eight o ' clock-, and that in Rule 10 in page 28 of the Book of Constitutions , after the word after 'Ten' shall be inserted instead of 'Eleven . '" He urged in support of this motion that as many brethren lived out of town , it would be desirable to commence business at an earlier hour and close at an earlier hour , to enable them to

catch trains on their return to their homes . As it was , often important business was disposed of by only a few brethren . He had received no communication from the G . Master as to whether it would be inconvenient to him to attend at seven instead of eight o ' clock . Bro . Udall seconded the motion . The present meetings of

Grand Lodge were too late , and at the end the business was slurred over . He looked upon this as a great improvement and cordially supported the motion . The acting G . Master said when this motion was brought forward by Bro . Stewart at the last meeting of Grand Lodge , he at once acceded to the suggestion that the discussion should be

postponed until they obtained the views of the G . Master upou it . He ( the acting G . M . ) was then in possesion of those views in a letter which he had received from tho G . Master , in whicli he said he should oiler no opinion himself , but should leave it to Grand Lodge to decide . The only objection that lie could see that could he raised against it was , that as the House of

Commons sit until six o ' clock on Wednesdays in the months of March and June , Grand Lodge should meet at eight o'clock , and in the months of September and December at seven o ' clock . No doubt this suggestion was a correct one , for if the House nf Commons sat until six o ' clock , it would be out of the power of members to attend Grand Lodge at seven .

Bro . Symonds said practically the business of the House of Commons on Wednesdays terminated at half-past live o ' clock , and scarcely any member of the House of Commons attended Grand Lodge . Therefore when they saw how few of the members of the Lower House wore members ol Grand Lodge , he hoped that the motion would be agreed to , and that they should have the meetings of Grand Lodge at seven o ' clock all the year round .

Bro . Savage supported the motion . Many members lived out of town , and time and trains waited for no man . Bro . Warren said if the motion was passed it would exclude him from Grand Lodge for ever . He was a subscribing member to four lodges , and had been unable to attend any one of them for four years on account of his duties . The onl y Masonry he

was able to attend to were the meetings of Grand Lodge , aud if the motion was passed he should be deprived of that . The motion was then put and carried .

PAYMENTS BY LODGES TOR ACCOMMODATION . The next item on the paper was the following . — By Bro . Henry Greene , P . M ., 250 : — "Considering that the rents payable by lodges which meet at the Hall , press very heavily on those which have limited numbers , or whose subscriptions are not high . " To

move" That Grand Lod ge order that the rates fixed by the Building Committee in their report , dated 20 th February , 1 S 67 , and approved by Grand Lodge at the Quarterl y Communication of the 4 th December , 1867 , for the use of—and so far as regards—the ' Dalhousie' and 'Moira 'Rooms , be rescinded , and that they be henceforth £ 1 Is . per meeting , the same as the Preston Room

, instead of £ 1 lis . Gd . as heretofore . " He urged that the charges were too high and ought to be modified . The Grand Registrar suggested that this subject should be re-

United Grand Lodge.

ferrod back to the Building Committee , and moved as an amendment that it be referred back to the Building Committee to consider if any and what charges should be made in the rates charged for lodge rooms . Bro . Savage seconded the amendment . Bro . Llewellyn Evans said the only object of the Committee was

to give every accommodation with a fair return for the outlay . Bro . Grisscll , as a member of the Building Committee , said they felt that the rents of the rooms ought to recoup them for the building . The rents Mere now lower than the same accommodation could be provided for elsewhere , and if thoy were to be reduced it must be hy the act of Grand Lodgo and not tho

Building Committee . Bro . Dr . Hogg said , if that was the view of the Committee , it was a most suicidal act , for lodges were turned away from their proper home on account of the high charges that were made . Bro . Adlard , as a member of a lodge with 24 members , said they had to pay a guinea and a half for the use of a room . If

they asked for a guinea room they were always told that it was engaged . The amendment was put and carried .

TIIE BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE . Bro . John Savage , P . G . D ., moved : — " At page 97 , Article 3 , of the Book of Constitutions , to omit all the words from the word ' Three ' in the fourteenth line , to the word ' place' in the twentieth line , and to substitute the following paragraph : — "A President shall be annually appointed by the Grand

Master at the Quarterly Communication in December . From amongst its members the Board shall , at its meeting in December , annually elect a Senior and a Junior Vice-President , who shall act as the Wardens . In the absence of the President , the Senior , and in the absence of both , the Junior Vice-President shall take the chair . Should all three be absent , the brother

highest iu rank and seniority shall preside . " Bro . Symonds hoped this subject would be referred to Bro . Clabon ' s Committee , to consider and report upon it . Bro . Savage acceded to tbe suggestion , and the motion was put and agreed to . This being the whole of the business , Grand Lodge was closed in due form and with solemn prayer , and adjourned at a quarter before eleven o ' clock .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

PROSPERITY LODGE ( NO . 65 ) . —The regular monthly meeting of this old established lodge took place at the Guildhall Tavern , Gresham-street , on Thursday , 20 th ult ., Bro . R . W . Goddard iu the chair of K . S . Lodgo being duly opened the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed , after which the W . M . proceeded to initiate Messrs . William Muggleton and George Huggett into the mysteries of Freemasonry ; this

ceremony being completed Bros . Leins , Simpson , and Sundham were raised , and Bros . Bowyer , Squire , and Goldstein passed to the second degree ; all the work was well and ably performed . No other business being before the lodgo it was duly closed , and the brethren adjourned to the banquetting room , where a splendid supper was served which gave great satisfaction to all present . The usual toasts were given and responded to .

Bro . Bellerby , P . M ., the respected Secretary , gave the health of the W . M ., in a capital speech . The toast of the visitors was duly acknowledged by Bro . West , P . M ., of the Capper Lodge , and the officers of the lodge in a most able manner by Bros . J . L . Mather , S . W . ; Cook , J . W .: and E . C . Mather , Treas . After spending a very enjoyable evening the brethren separated in peace , love , and harmony . LODGE OE PRUDENT BRETHREN , ( NO . 145 ) . —This distinguished lodge held a meeting at the Freemasons' Hall , on the