Grand Lodge.

GRAND LODGE .

LONDON , SATURDAY , lUUCH 9 , 1801 .

The quarterly comnvunicafcion of "Wednesday last ivas a somewhat dull affair , compared with the meetings to which we hare heen used of late . After some formal business had been transacted , Bro . Sargood proposed the re-election ofthe M . W . G . M ., which was carried nem . con . The noble Earl briefly

acknowledged the compliment , and toot . occasion to make an explanation relative to the patents of the Prov . G . M ' s ., stating that some doubts had been raised with regard to the powers conveyed in empowering those functionaries to " constitute" new lodges , whicli the M . W . G . M .

contended must be construed to mean " consecrate , " as the patents went on to say " subject nevertheless to our approval ; " and no lodges could be constituted until they had received a warrant from the G . M . We are bound

to accept the explanation of the G . M ., though we admit we are not convinced that " constitute" and " consecrate " are synonymous . Moreover , if our memory fails us not , had his lordship read a little further , he would have found other and stronger words which require explaining away , though we may be mistaken , speaking only from the

impression made upon our mind hy the reading of the patent of Yiscount Holmesdale , upon the occasion of his installation . At all events , before we speak more positively upon the subject , we shall endeavour to obtain a copy of a patent—but our impression is , that in

the intense desire to avoid innovation , the patents now are merely copies issued of those before the union of 1813 , prior to which time , we have little doubt , the Prov . G . M ' s . did hai r e the power of constituting new lodges , having a vivid recollection of having seen

somewhere in the provinces—we think in the Clarence Lodge , Brighton—a wan-ant for constituting the lodge , signed , not by the M . W . G . M ., but by the Prov . G . M . After some formal business had been transacted , a

memorial was read from Bro . Dujardin , W . M . of Lodge 818 , Jersey , appealing against a decision of the B . W . Prov . G . M . of the Channel Islands , who had first fined him £ 4 > , and then suspended him , for non-payment , from his Masonic duties , on the ground that , having served the oiEce of W . M . for two years , ancl no

successor having been appointed , he had called a lodge at the commencement of the third year , without having been re-elected ( it appearing the brethren could not be got together ) , or obtained a dispensation . The appeal was allowed , on the ground that the Prov . G . M . had

gone out of his way to inflict a punishment—a personal difference evidently existing between the Prov . G . M . and the W . M . of ISTo . 818—without adhering to the law laid down in the Book of Constitutions , that , before exercising his authorityhe shall " inquire and

deter-, mine" relative to any charge made , and giving the brother accused an opportunity of being heard in his defence . We hear of strange doings in this province , which appears to be about the worst managed of any

Grand Lodge.

under the English jurisdiction ; and that is saying-a great deal . A motion for taking £ 4000 out of the funds of the Lodge of Benevolence , proposed by Bro . Joseph Smith , and apportioning it amongst the Charities , was lost , and we think properly sothough we cannot agree that the

, Charities do not want money . They do want it ; but , excepting in case of emergency , the breeches pockets of the brethren , and not the funds of Grand Lodge , should find all that is necessary to provide for their stability and efficiency . If at any time , for a- special and

temporary object , £ 1000 is required , Grand Lodge may be properly applied to , and we are sure the appeal will not then be made in vain .

£ 50 per annum were voted from the General Eund of Grand Lodge to find the inmates of the Asylum at Croydon with coals . Bro . Savage then brought forward a resolution for subscribing £ 200 from the General Fund of Grand

Lodge towards purchasing an annuity for Bro . Wm . Watson , in testimony of his valuable services to the Craft as a teacher of Masonry , and the zeal he has evinced in establishing and resuscitating various lodges and chapters . Bro . Savage made a very bad speech in

support of his motion , despite of which it was carried by a majority of 100 to 68—and we hope that the £ 200 will be increased manyfold by the liberality of the brethren , so that Bro . Watson may reoeive such an annuity as will render him thoroughly independent of the frowns of the world .

The Boys' School.

THE BOYS' SCHOOL .

As a rule , we do not publish reports presented to the Committees of onr various Benevolent Institutions vmtil they are brought regularly under the notice of the subscribers at a general meeting ; and we only depart from that rule in the present instance , because , having been ordered to be printed for the use of such , subscribers as

may apply for it , we look upon the fo flowing report as public property , which we reprint , believing it will he acceptable to a large body of the subscribers in the country , who may not otherwise receive it . Under any circumstances , we should abstain from offering any

comment upon the report— -the Editor of this MAGAZINE , as will be seen by the signatures , being a member of the Committee ; but we the more especially abstain from doing so as it stands for discussion at an adjourned meeting of the General Committee to be held on the

16 th inst . Befoi-e laying the report before our readers , we may remind them that the Annual Festival of this valuable Institution —¦ for most valuable it is , despite some little drawbacks which have attended the opening

the school , and bringing the boys ( excepting where otherwise wished by the parents , in consequence of religious scruples ) under one management—will take place on Wednesday next , under the presidency of the Eight Hon . the Lord Mayor , Bro . Cubitt , P . G . W ., who ,