Grand Lodge.

The GEAND MASTEE said he understood that Bro . Lloyd had given notice of a motion on the appropriation of the premises , but this being a preliminary objection that could not refer to the reception of tlie report , as ho Avould have another opportunity of discussing the merits ol ifc . He had suggested the necessity for the appointment of another day to discuss the report , and he ( the Grand Master ) should he most willing to call a special Grand Lodge for that purpose , but afc the same

time he did nofc think his notice interfered ivith the motion that tho report should be entered on the minutes . Bro . JIEVAIOTT said as he had been referred to by the Grand Registrar as thc Avriter of the letter AA'hich had appeared in the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE , he might say that whether that letter should or should not have appeared did nofc depend upon him , bufc upon the editor of that paper . ( Oh , oh . ) As far as lie ivas individually concerned he felt that he AA-as justified in

writing that letter , and the editor felt justified in inserting it and he presumed that he ivould not have done so had the reasons for writing that letter not appeared evident on the faee of it . That letter was an expression of his opinions , and he was prepared to maintain them at the present moment . The facts , however , ivere not as the Grand Registrar had expressed themand he would state what realloccurred . The

, y Committee of the Board ot General Purposes had had four meetings , and at each of those four meetings he objected to the report and he said that the report , as proposed , would prove unacceptable to the Craft on account of its uncertainty , its expense , and that the alterations would be upon too large a scale , At the fourth meeting the report was Drought up without its being shown to the Committee .

Bro . JENNINGS , P . G . D . C , said the Board of General Purposes had brought up the report , had adopted it and were responsible for AA-hat had been done , and ifc was not for any individual member of the sub-committee IIOAV to express any opinion as to the merits of ifc .

Bro . GEEGOEAT said while fully agreeing with Bro . Jennings , that it ivould not be desirable to go into the merits of this question , and that they ought nofc then to he discussed , as a brother had been attacked , he did not say Avhether rightly or wrongly , he submitted that the Worshipful Grand Master should stretch the limits of order as far as he could , to enable Bro . Meymott to explain the attack which had been made upon him .

The GEAND MASTEE said he had not seen the letter , or did he often see fche paper to AA'hich their brother had alluded , hut as a member of the Board of General Purposes , he AA-as included in the acts of of that Board , although individually he might not concur in them . After a feiv Avords from Bro . Tomkins , G . Treas ., Bro . MEATTMOTT said all he wanted AA-as to defend himself , as far as he Avas able from the attack AA'hich had been made

upon him , and he ivould refer any brother to that letter , and having read it , they would see it expressed no more than AA-hat Avas true . In that letter he had said the report was not the unanimous report of the committee , although it had been said to be so . He ( Bro . Meymott ) said that was not so , thafc he dissented from it , and more than that that he was not the only dissentient . He maintained that the report when it AA-as

reprinted ought to have been shown to the , committee of AA'hich there were seven members . He was not one of those ivho agreed to the report , and he knew that the Board of General Purposes were not unanimous in agreeing to the report of the committee . He did nofc concur in it , and therefore as one of the committee he felt that he ivas justified in saying that he had not agreed to it , and he believed that nofc more than tAvo thirds of the committee had done so .

Bro . JENNINGS said he AA-as sorry that a meeting of Grand Lodge should be made the arena to discuss personal matters , bufc he ivould adopt the mildest language he could and ivould declare that this letter was a tissue of misrepresentations . ( Oh , oh . ) He declared that the letter was couched in such terms that it conveyed to Grand Lodge a complete misrepresentation of the facts . Bro . MEXAIOTT . It does not . It is not a communication to

Grand Lodge at all . _ Bro . JENNINGS said the letter had been inserted in a publication which was circulated amongst the members of the Craft . Bro . GEEGOEAT said in a matter of this kind which was not properly before them , he thought that such terms as " a tissue of misrepresentations , " were rather unmasonic . The GEAND MASTEE said as the letter referred to had been

Grand Lodge.

written to a public paper , and had not been communicated hy authority , it could not bo properly quoted in Grand Lodge , but the brethren were competent to call upon the Editor , if he was a member of Grand Lodge , to say upon Avhat authority he inserted that letter . Bro . JENNINGS said that Ero . Warren the Editor ivas a member of Grand Lodge , and he ivould ask him if he ivas the Editorof the FEEEAIASONS' MAGAZINE .

Bro . WAEEEN : I am . , Bro . JENNINGS was about to put some further questions , but there were such unmistakable expressions of dissent as to any such catechising , that he pursued ifc no further and sal doivn . The GEAND MASTEE said to make known AA-hat took place in the Board of General Purposes , Avas contrary to the laws of Masonry , and the Editor of any publication , if a member of Grand Lod AA-IIO published anything relative to what took

ge , place in that Board , Avas deserving of , and ought to receive the severest reprehension from Grand Lodge . ( Cheers and laughter . ) The subject then dropped , and the report of the Board of General Purposes was received , and ordered to be entered on the minutes , ivifch tivo dissentients . Bro . MOINTYEE then moved that the Board of General Purposes do prepare plans and estimates requisite fotfthe

appropriation of the property , as suggested by the report , and that such plans and estimates be open for fche ins ^ iection of the brethren , at the Grand Secretary ' s office , fourteen days before the next Grand Lodge . The E . Worshipful Brother then by means of sections on the Avail , pointed out how the property Avas to be disposed of , stating that some of the neAvly acquired property in Queen's-place , Avas in a very dilapidated condition , and Avithout a large amount of money spent in reparation , could not be rendered valuable fcn the Craft . Therefore the Board of

General Purposes wore of opinion , that this portion of the property might advantageously be appropriated to Masonic purposes . With respect to section 2 of the plan , that also in process of time was intended to be devoted to Masonic purposes , and was only noiv throAvn out for consideration . The plans and estimates were in preparation , so that the brethren might see them in the Grand Secretary ' s office , Avhen fchey Avould be able to form an opinion , whether they would accept the plans in

their entirety , reject them in their entirety , or adopt them with such modifications as might be required . Ifc was , hoivever , necessary , that those plans should be placed before their eyes , so thafc the Craft might know what they were to have . The GEAND MASTEE said it did appear to him to be impossible noiv to discuss this question , as they would have to consider many things , and it would therefore be much better to fix at once a special meeting of Grand Lodgeto take them into

, consideration , Bro . HAA'E ES said as Bro . Herbert Lloyd had a motion on the paper on this subject , perhaps it would be desirable for his lordship to ascertain from him , IIOAV far he ivould meet the view of Grand Lodge . The GEAND MASTEE said he understood that Bro . Herbert Lloyd did nofc intend to move his amendment . Bro . HEEBEET LLOTD said , the Most Worshipful Grand

Master ivas misinformed , for he should most certainly do so , ashe believed a greater sacrifice of their property had never been brought before Grand Lodge . There Avas no doubt that gentlemen had designs of their OAVII , and Avished to see the revenues expended , in order to gratify their wishes ; but they would leave nothing behind after those tastes and fancies had been indulged in . Had his lordship not have named a day to consider it , he should have opposed the reception of the report , because he

believed ifc was fraught with the greatest destruction to thei . i property they had ever experienced . He had nofc abandoned his motion , and should move an amendment to the report of the Board of General Purposes on the subject of the appropriation of the property of Grand Lodge : — " That inasmuch as the Board of General Purposes is constantly changing its members , being an annually elected body , it is expedient that Grand Lodge appoint a permanent committee , of nofc more than seven

members , to be called ' The Building Committee , ' to whom the . whole question of the appropriation of the Grand Lodge property be referred , with the vieiv of providing increased accommodation for the Craft and its Charities , enlarged space for the Annual Festivals , the comfort and convenience of the brethren , by the establishment of a coffee and reading room , and such other tavern accommodation as may be deemed necessary for the Craft . ' He admitted that they wanted increased accommodation , but he said advisedly they had sufficient accommodation