Grand Lodge.

Sari dc- Grey and Eipon , D . G- Master ; Lord Eliot , M . P ., S-G . W . j and Bro . V- A . AVilliamson , as J . G . AA . On , " the iiiis were Bros . Lord Leigh , Prov . G . M . for Warwickshire ; S . Xawiion , District G . M . for China ; T- M . Talbot , Prov . G . M . for "it © Eastern Division of South AVales ; the Rev . J . J . M'Soiley , © -Chap , to the Grand Lodgo of Ireland ; the Rev . R . J . F-

Shomas and the Rev . R . J . Simpson , G . Chaps . ; the Rev . C . M . Davy , P . G . Chap . ; Hervey , P . G . D . ; J . N . Tomkins , P . G . D . ; 1 A Evans , President of the Board of General Purposes ; jEneas 35 'Intyre , G . Reg . ; A . AVoods , G . Div . of Cers- ; Fenn , Assist . G . Dir . of Cers . ; G . Clarke , G . Sec . ; Francis , Fraser , and J . Hogg , ® . D / s ; J . Savage , G . Cox , J . S . Pullen , AV . E . Gumbleton , B .

Bead , E . S . Snell , AV . G . K . Potter , J . M . Clabon , and J . Udall , y . G . D . 's ; W . Farnfield , P . G . Assist . See . ; J . Symonds , P . G . Dir . of Cers . ; E . Basher , G . S . B . ; E . II . Patten , R . J . Spiers , ana Young , P . G . S . B . ' s ; J . Smith and X Emmens , P . G . Pursts . i % Lewis , 6- Purst . -, T . A- Adams and AV . Ough , P . G . Pursts . Tlie Grand Lodge having been opened in ample form , and with solemn prayer , scrutineers were appointed to issue Mtotfng papers for the election of members to constitute the Board of General Purposes .

TILE QUARTERIY CosnttnncATios . The minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the 6 th of SJarch were read and confirmed . THE GEAND FESTIVAL . The minutes of the Grand Festival ofthe 21 th of April were sead and confirmed .

BEO . EJIMENS , PAST . G . PuBsurvAirT . Toe G . MASTER , pursuant to notice , moved " That Bro . John Smmens , late G . Purst ., do take rank as , and wear the clothing «? , a Past Grand Pursuivant . " "She motion was put , and agreed to unanimously , amidst loud and general cheering .

THE BOARD OF GENEBU , PURPOSES . As there were more than the required number of candidates to form the Board of General Purposes , a ballot took place , when the following brethren were declared to be elected by fend Lodge . —Masters—Bros . Silvester Capes , 12 ; C . C . Dumas , 410 ; H . J . P . Dumas , 99 ; J . Merifield , 49 ; G . II .

Oliver , 975 ; J . P . Peirce , 2 ; J . Topper , 14 ; C . H . Waters , 91 . Tfcst Masters—Bros . Brett , 177 ; Cox , 657 ; J . C . Forster , 69 ; 3 ; Nnnn , 134 ; Sheen , 201 ; F . Lilley , 857 . There was a tie with regard to votes for Bros . Lilley and S . Paynter , but the Grand Master gave his casting vote in ftvour of Bro . Lilley , as he represented the oldest lod To

ge . Hie above the Grand Master nominated the following brethren & complete the members of the Board of General Purposes : — Bros . L . Evans , President ; V . Williamson , Vice-President ; Mclntyre , Fraser , Jabez Hogg , John Savage , Pullen , Clabon ! Albert Woods , Young , and J . Smith .

THE COEOSTAL BOAED . The members to form the Colonial Board were appointed as follow : — Bros . Hopwood , President ; Fraser , Vice President ; J . Smith , T . Adlard , T . AV . J . Goldsbro ' , Cottebrune , Jabez Hogg . J . Q . Marsh , J . Nunn , AV . Young . ROYAI . MASOSIC BENEVOLENT IUSTITUTIOX .

The following- were appointed as the Committee of Manageassent for the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and the AAldows of Freemasons - —Bros . M'Intyre , Gray Clarke , Gerrald , Hopwood , G . Cox , A . AVoods , Le Veau , ' J : Smith , Fraser , J . Hogg , B . Baker , J . Brett , E . Cox , E . AV Davis , J . A . Farnfield , S . Gale , J . G . Marsh , P . E . J . Page W .. F .. N . Quilty , AV . F . Sinitlu

THE BOAED OP B ENEVOLENCE . The G . SECRETARY read the report of the Board of Benevolence for the last quarter , which also contained recommendations for the following grants : — Bro . Charles H , of the Royal Cumberland Lodge ( No . 41 ) , Bath £ 40

The orphan children of the late Bro . Peter B , ofthe Caledonian Lodge ( No . 134 ) , London ... £ 30 The widow of the late Bro . John AV , ofthe Doric Lodge ( No . 362 ) , Grantham £ 30 These recommendations were put seriatim , and carried unanimously , the whole being very deserving cases .

THE BOABD or GENERAL PURPOSES . On the motion of Bro . L . EVANS , the report was taken as read , and afterwards that it be received and entered on the minutes . To the report was subjoined a statement of the Grand Lodge accounts at the last meeting of the Finance Committee held on the 17 th May , showing a balance in the hands of the Grand

Treasurer of £ 3 , 767 Is . 8 d ., and in the hands of the Grand Secretary for petty cash £ 50 . Of these sums there belongs to the Fund of Benevolence £ 994 9 s . 6 d ., to the Fund of General Purposes £ 2 , 331 18 s . 9 d ., and there is in the Unappropriated Account £ 490 13 s . Sd .

TnE COLONIAL BOAED . The report of the Colonial Board was next taken into consideration , and on the motion of Bro . Frazer it was taken as read , and afterwards he moved that it be received and entered on the minutes . The G . RE & ISTEAR said that he hoped , in moving tbe adoption of this report , he should not afterwards be deemed

inconsistent in moving that the appeal of the brethren from South Australia should be allowed , not that he considered the brethren were right , but that the course of action taken by the Provfecial Grand Master was wrong . Tho report was received .

APPEAL FROM SOUTH AUSTRALIA . This appeal was then outorod upon , but to make tho matter intelligible it will bo nocossary to repeat that part of tho report of tho Colonial Board which refers to tho subject . Tho report says : — The Colonial Board report that they have had laid before them sundry papers transmitted for their consideration from the

R . AV . the District Grand Master of South Australia , the brother acting as District Grand Secretary , and certain members of the District Grand Lodge , styling themselves a General Committee . Tbe subject matter of the reference relates to the validity or otherwise of the appointment of the said committee , and the consequent regularity or irregularity of their proceedings .

It will be necessary to enter into some details , in order to I make the case clear , and to show the grounds upon which the Colonial Board came to tho conclusions to which they arrived . The Grand Lodge of England recently passed certain laws whereby enlarged powers , under certain , conditions , were eon * fided to District Grand Lodges in the colonies and foreign parts .

Amongst others it empowered them to investigate and decide on all matters relating to lodges and individual Masons within their respective districts , as well as to exercise such powers either of themselves or by a committee . And the District Grand Lodges were further authorised to make rules and regulations for the management and conduct of their own

proceedings , and of those of any committee of their own body , and may alter such rules as they think fit ; but no rule or regulation shall be in force until approved hy the M . AV . the Grand Master of England . "