The Grand Lodge And " The Freemasons' Magazine."

his intention to place another nobleman in nomination for the office of Grand Master in opposition to the Earl of Zetland , well knoAving it Avas only a protest against the then government , as also against a noble brother Avhich another section

of Grand Lodge Avished to set up for Grand Master . A change of the executive shortly afterwards took place , since which period , though occasionally disagreeing with the policy pursued , we deny that any brethren have given the Grand

Master and his advisers a more loyal and independent support than have the conductors of THE FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE . Of late , however , Ave fancy we have seen indications of old influences again tightening around the Grand Master , and we shall

not hesitate to speak freely upon all points in which either the privileges of the Grand Master are interfered Avith , or the independence of Grand Lodge menaced or attempted to be controlled , whilst Ave Avell know kow to maintain the even

tenour of our Avay , regardless of all threats or " warnmsys" Avhich Ave had thought were UOAV confined to the other side of the channel .

The Grand Lodge Property.

THE GRAND LODGE PROPERTY .

The AA hole question regarding the future arrangement of the Gi * ancl Lodge property is IIOAV likely to be brought under the consideration of Grand Lodge , the M . W . Grand Master having consented to call a special Grand Lodge on or about the

16 th of July , Avhen not only the report and plans of the Board of General Purposes , but all other plans and estimates ivhich may be deposited at the Grand Secretary's office before the end of June , are to be taken into consideration , ' and ,

Ave hope , ultimately lead to the adoption of a scheme generally acceptable to the brethren , and not too costly . That that conclusion can be quickly arrived at Ave have no hope , especially if the laAvyers are to be alloAved , to disport themselves as they

did on Wednesday evening , when something like tAvo hours Avere Avasted fighting * AA ith shadoAvs , and shoAving the difference betAveen tAveedledum and tAveedledee ; and that , too , on a motion which everybody Avho had read the Booh of Constitutions

kneAV could not be put to Grand Lodge * . We have long been of opinion , and often expressed it , that the best tribunal to carry , out any scheme for the re-arrangement of the Grand Lodge property would be an independent Committee of

The Grand Lodge Property.

Grand Lodge , and not a fluctuating body like the Board of General Purposes ; but Ave have never been blind to the fact that , to enable Grand Lodge to appoint such a committee , the present law must be altered , it declaring in terms not to be mistaken : —

" The Board has the direction of everything relating to the buildings and furniture of the Grand Lodge and may suggest any alterations or improvements . * * * ifc shall also give orders for all the usual and ordinary articles Avhich may be requisite for the Grand Lodge , but no extraordinary expense of any kind shall be incurred Avithout the previous sanction of the Grand Lodge . "

Until that law is altered , it is clear that no committee can be appointed to interfere Avith the management of the Grand Lodge property ; and yet Bro . Herbert Lloyd , a distinguished member of the legal profession , proceeded to move the

appointment of a committee , AA'ith the vieAV of getting rid of the report of the Board of General Purposes altogether , and at once launched into another point of laAv , viz ., that the Freemasons , not being an incorporated body , could not sell

or lease any portion of their property , inasmuch as nobody would lease or purchase from them , they not being in a position to give such a title as anyone Avould accept ; that they could not enforce the carrying out of any contract , as they could neither

sue nor be sued ; and , further , that Freemasonry being a fluctuating * body , a contract entered into by one Grand Lodge might be revoked by anothei * , Avithout the parties Avith whom they contracted having any remedy against them . NOAV , there is

a great deal of legal truth in all this , and the laAA'yers revelled in it to the utmost , altogether disregarding * the fact , that though we cannot give such a title as every lawyer Avould approve , though Ave cannot sell or lease any portion of our property , Ave have done both , and parties have been found to take a title from us AA'ith all its defects .

We some years since sold a portion of our property to the Wesleyan body , and they have erected schools thereon at a considerable cost , no attempt ever having been made by the Grand Lodge of one year to upset the proceedings of a previous

year . Again , more recently , Ave did grant a lease for an hotel , on condition that £ 8000 should be expended upon it . That lease has been carried out , the lessee is still in possession , and the report of the Board of General Purposes , presented on Wednesday last , expressly acknoAvledges that lease , by proposing to buy up the remaining interest in