Grand Lodge Of England.

lewis , G . Purst . ; William Ougb , Assist . G . Purst . ; Edward H . Patten , P . G . S . B . ; Edward'J . Fraser , P . G . D . ; Edward Roberts , G . S . B ., & c . The Grand Muster took his place on the throne , Earl Vane acting as S . G . W ., and Frederick Pattison as J . G . W . The Grand Lodge was opened in due form and with solemn

prayer . GRAND LODGE REGULATIONS . The Grand Secretary ( Bro . J . Hervey ) , read tho regulations for the Government of Grand Lodge during tbe time of public meeting . MlNUTES 02 ' HIE LAST QuATlTEttLY CoaMUNICATrON .

The Grand Secretary read the minutes of the quarterly communication of the 2 nd of December , 1 SGS , which were unanimously confirmed .

ELECTION OF GRAND MASTER . Bro . Sbarpe , D . C . L ., said he rose to propose that the Right Hon . the Earl of Zetland be elected Grand Master for the ensuing year , and on behalf of the brethren he congratulated the Grand Master on his concluding twenty-five years service in that office . On a previous occasion , when he ( Bro . Sbarpe ) had

thehouour of nominating his lordship , he said they must judge of the value of a Sovereign by the state of the kingdom he has ruled , and he then brought before the brethren the great good that had been enjoyed by the Craft during the time their Grand Master had ruled over them . Their numbers had been quadrupled , and their charities were objects of emulation by the

benevolent world . Their Boys' School was in a state of unexampled prosperity ; their Girls' School was well supported , and their Asylum for aged Freemasons had done incalculable good , and brought blessings to the Craft , while their children had been taught those lessons which would enable them in the future to fight the great battle of life in a way that was

becoming the sons and daughters of Freemasons . As regarded the aged Freemasons their institution made them happy , and at the close of their lives smoothed the pillows of those who might otherwise die in sorrow and distress . Therefore , he said , that they owed their Grand Master a deep debt of respect . He , as a member in common with the Craft , deprecated

flattering , and what he said was supported b y facts . It mi ght be supposed h y some that the position of the Grand Master was a bed of roses , but he could assure the brethren that it was no such thing , for . here was no working Mason who did his duty more assiduously than the Grand Master . That demanded a mark of their gratitude , and therefore he called their attention

to the fact ; but as far as the Craft was concerned , from the subscriptions which had been raised , bo had no doubt that the mark of respect that would be presented to him , would well represent the esteem in whicli he WHS held by the Craft . He concluded by proposing the Right Hon . the Earl of Zetland to be Grand Master for tha ensuing year .

Bro . C . Dumas seconded the motion . Lord Dc Grey and Ripon , Deputy Grand Master , put the motion , which was unanimously agreed to and with loud cheering . Bro . Albert Woods , G . Dir . of Cers ., then proclaimed tho titles ofhis lordship , and he received the customary salutes from the brethren ,

The Grand Master said : Brethren , it is with more than ordinary feelings of gratitude , I have to thank you for the honour you have done me in electing me for the twenty-fifth time as your Grand Master . I have so often expressed my thanks on these occasions , and assured you of my anxious desire to perform those arduous duties which you have placed upon

my shoulders , that I cannot find different words , to express my sense of your kindness to those I have used before ; except in this that I have held the office of Grand Master for a longer period than any one of my predecessors , except the Duke of Sussex , and therefore I feel exceedingly grateful that I have so long engaged your confidence . It is always my anxious study and

desire to deserve that confidence , and it is especially gratifying to me that it has been continued for so long a period . I thank you sincerely and 1 can assure you that the events of this day , on which I have completed a quarter of a century in your service will ever he remembered , and I should be most ungrateful if I did not appreciate it as the most eventful period of my life « I again thank you for the honour you have done me , and I hope still to enjoy your confidence .

THE GRAND TREASURES . Bro . Brackstone Baker , P . M . 21 , proposed the re-election of Bro . Samuel Tomkins as Grand Treasurer for the eighteenth time . They all knew his worth , and to say anything in his praise would be only to gild refined gold . Bro . Dumas seconded the motion .

The Grand Master put the motion , which was unanimously carried . Bra . Tomkins , G . Treasurer , said he thanked the brethren for electing him as their Grand Treasurer , and he felt pleased that , he should have to fill that office for the ensuing year , when such interesting matters were about to take place , and he alluded

more especially to tbe testimonial that was about to be presented to their Grand Master . He thanked them sincerely for that renewed mark of their f ; tvour .

THE PRINCE OF WALES AND F REEMASONRY . The Grand Master said : Brethren , a notice stands ou thepaper , " That tho M . W . Grand Master will make a communication to the Grand Lodge respecting his Royal Hig hness the Prince of Wales , and on other matters , and will move thereon . " I beg to state that in consequence of a communication I

havelately received , I feel it incumbent on me to postpone the notice till a future occasion . Yon will excuse me for saying what that communication is , as it was made to me confidentially . This created some surprise , as there can be no doubt that the very unusually large attendance of m embers was influenced by the notice given , that a communication would be made about

the Prince of Wales , and when no information was given by his Lordship , many of the members soon afterwards quitted the hall , showing that they had como on purpose to hear it .

REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GRAND LOHGE OF IRELAND The Grand Master said—Brethren , the Grand Lodge of Ireland have appointed Colonel Francis Burdett , as its representative at the Grand Lodge of England . I confer upon him th & rank of P . G . S . W . GRANTS FRO . II THE BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE .

A report was presented from the Board of Benevolence , iu which were recommendations for grants to nine brethren and widows of deceased brethren , amounting in the aggregate to £ 220 , which were agreed to .

BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES , The report ( a veiy brief one ) of the Board of General Purposes was presented , which was taken as read . Bro . Llewellyn Evans , the President of the Board , in moving that it be received and entered on the minutes , said that was the second time that he , as the President ofthe Board of General Purposes , had to come before them with so pleasing a report . It was gratifying for Grand Lodge that there were no disputes