Grand Lodge.

uy brother proposed a name as a member of the Committee , hat he should have obtained the consent of the one he proposed and expressed a willingness to act upon it , but he would not exclude the proposition of any name on that account . Bro . Dr . JONES proposed " Bro . Harcourt , Prov . G . M . for Surrey . Bro . AA ' ELLINGTON VAELANCE wished to withdraw his name from the second listas there were other hrethren better

, many qualified ; and he hoped some other brother would he elected for that distinguished honour . Bro . HERBERT LIOVD said it had been suggested to him that he had done wrong in withdrawing his name ; ancl he had now to say that , if the brethren chose to elect him , he was willing to serve . The D . GRAND MASTER said it was competent for the brethren

to vote for any of the names from both lists , and also to add that of Dr . Harcourt , but not to exceed seven in number , or those papers in ivhich that number was exceeded would be rejected . The balloting papers were then distributed , and scrutineers appointed to collect them .

THE DISTRESS IN THE COTTON DISTRICTS . The D . GRAND MASTER said they would then proceed to the other business ; and the next notice on the paper stood in the name ofthe M . AA . the Grand Master , ivhich he had entrusted to him ( the D . G . M . ) to move on the occasion . He most gladly undertook that duty , but he would not detain Grand Lodge by entering into any detailed descrition of that great ancl

unp foreseen misfortune which at the present moment was hearing so heavily on a great portion of the population of this country . Their minds had for some time heen harrowed with the details of the great distress in the cotton districts ; and , he thought the inhabitants of this country , were bcund deeply to reflect npon , _ and afford relief to the suffering thousands in their individual capacity . It was one of the first principles of every

good Freemason that it made them better men not only towards Masons , but towards mankind at large ; and those who did not belong to their Craft , that it did not weaken , but strengthened their love for their fellow men , and , above all , for their fellow countrymen . He did not think , it necessary to spend another moment in awakening their sympathies on behalf of a large portion of their population , who were now undergoing such an amount of suffering , from no fault of their own , hut who

had borne it with a patience and forbearance which did honour to the country to which they belonged . It might be made a question whether , as Freemasons , it ivould he right that they should make a grant from their funds to be distributed amongst those who did not belong to the Craft . There were no doubt in Lancashire and Cheshire many Masons who were affected by the present distress , but the proposition he had to make went further than thatfor it would not apply solelto Masons . In

, y two great national events ivhich had occurred the Grand Lodge had come forward with its contributions . One of them was of a warlike description , when Grand Lodge came forward to help those who suffered by its contribution to the Pati-iotic Fund , and also to assist those who fell in the Indian mutinv . Those were

events which had stirred the nation , and were regarded as great and national calamities that had fallen on the population . This famine in the cotton districts was also a national event , their sympathies had been awakened by the sufferings of the people and he held that it was their duty , as a nation , to come forward in their behalf . He held , therefore , that it was quite consistent with their duty as Freemasons to act as a part of a great people who were suffering ; to say to them " if you suffer we suffer , if

you are in misfortune ive share it with you , and if you are in prosperity wo rejoice with you . " Therefore he should proceed to submit the resolution , but , before he did so , there was one ciicumstauce to ivhich he wished to allude and that was the remark which had heen made , that the great millowners and the people of Lancashire had not themselves done their duty , but . for his part , he could not understand why it should be urged , as a reason , that because somebody else was not doing his duty ¦

that he should not do his own . But he was happy to say that there was no such objection in this case , for it was only that morning that he had read , in the public newspapers , and as most of the brethren were aware , that the millowners and the people of Lancashire had nobly done their duty . He would , therefore , now move " that the sum of £ 1000 be granted from the fund of General Purposes towards the relief of the distress in the cotton districts , " and he would add to the motion " that the

money he handed over to the Central Committee under the presidency of the Lord Mayor , " because he was a neighbour , ancl more than that because he was a good Mason . ( Cheers . ) Bro . SIR LUCIUS CURTIS , Prov . G . M . for Hampshire , said , conciding as he did in every word which had fallen from the D . G . M ., he would not take up their time , but would at once second the motion . The great object of Masonry was charit y ; that was the great object of their institution , ancl he hoped

they would respond to it as they ought to do . Bro . GREGORY , P . G . D ., doubted whether the grant could bo legally made from funds raised for Masonic purposes , and after some other observations suggested that a subscription should be raised amongst the loclges , which ivould render such a course as that now proposed unnecessary . Bro . PERKINS strongly urged a contribution towards the relief of the cotton districts , and said that for Grand Lodge to refuse £ 1000 to them when they had got £ 30 , 000 in hand was ridiculous .

Bro . BEAUMONT wished to move as an amendment to the proposition of the D . G . M . that the sum to be granted be £ 2000 . Bro . AIFBED SMITH said he thought the provinces ought to be represented in this matter , ancl therefore he should submit as au amendment that the proposed sum of £ 1000 on being voted by Grand Lodge should he distributed among Masons only —( cries of no , no)—and that the M . AV . G . M . be requested to form a Committee for the purpose of receiving the

subscriptions of brethren towards the general relief , including those who are not Masons . Masons had clone something , but not as much as they ought to do , and if a communication were to be made to the Masters of the different lodges , they would be able to get sufficient money in a month instead of waiting for it till March , when he hoped the distress might be at an end . This amendment not being seconded fell to the ground . Bro . BARNARD saidif the course suggested to be taken b

, y the M . AV . G . M . were followed , the money would not be taken from the benevolent fund , but from the funds of the Board of General Purposes . It was their duty as masons to carry out the great principles of brotherly love , relief , and truth , ancl he believed while it could he clone without interfering with their benevolent fund it would induce some to assist in supporting their charities to a greater extent than was done at present .

Bro . Dr . JONES said , that charity began at home , and he contended the money derived from masons should be devoted to the relief of masons ^ and masons only ( great disapprobation ) . Bro . BANISTER , from Northumberland , expressed his great approbation of the proposition , and hoped to see them come to a unanimous vote upon it . The D . G . MASTER then put the motion , which was carried with two or three dissentients .

Bro . STEBBING said , that as the motion had been carried with such unanimity , he would ask his lordship if he knew of any way by which the money could be paid to-morrow , and if , there were he wished , he would take steps for that purpose , as the quickness with which it was done would much add to the grace of the donation . Bro . Tomkins , Grand Treas ., said , M . W . D . G . M ., if it meets with your approbationI shall be most happy to pay the money

, tomorrow , and take the chance of the confirmation by Grand Lodge ( loud and enthusiastic cheering which was continued for some time followed the announcement , ) . a i The D . GRAND MASTER . —Nothing could be more truly Masonic than the proposal made by the Grand Treasurer , for there was no other way in which the suggestion of Bro . Stebbing could have been carried out ; and he was sure every Mason would esteem Bro . Tomkins for his noble offer .

THE ST . LAWRENCE LODGR . The D . GRAND MASTER said , iu reference to the St . Lawrence Lodge , the Grand Lodge of Canada had accepted the views which had been advocated by the Grand Lodge of England ; and he might also say that certain irregularities which had taken place in a particular province , which he need not name , had come to an end , and were now reduced to regularity and order

. Bio . LLEIVELXYN EVANS said that , having had the honour to preside over the Colonial Board during the time the complaint of the St . Lawrence Lodge , No . 923 , Montreal , relative to the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Canada , adverse to that lodge , was under consideration , he . begged to be allowed to congratulate Grand Lodge on the happy termination of a difference which he had feared would have led ' to serious difficulties in our