Grand Lodge.

P . M . 1 , 191- ; A . McMillan , P . M . 309 ; G . J . Tyler , J . W . 299 ; C . D . Faulkner , W . M . 1 , 036 ; G . Read , P . M . 1 , 208 ; AV . II . Green , S . W . 1 , 316 ; Win . Dodd , AV . M . 1 , 194 ; H . Landfield , AA ' . M . 1 , 343 ; F . Lane , 7 S 6 ; G . Stacey ; P . M . 209 ; C . Moore , W . M . 1 , 244 ; AV . E . Gompertz , P . M . 869 ; G . H . Verney , W , M . 90 S ; J . Daniel Moore , M . D ., P . M ., AA . M . 2 S 1 , 1 , 031 , G . S . B .

England ; W . AA . Walesley , AV . M . 929 ; W . Miller , W . M . 903 ; AA " . G . Hughan , P . M . 13 S , P . Prov . G . Sec , Cornwall ; Charles Horsley , 383 .

Grand Lodge was opened a few minutes past seven o ' clock , the Grand Organist performing- a march on the new organ whilst the procession entered the hall . The minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the 7 th June , were read aud put up for confirmation , and duly confirmed .

A report of the Board of Benevolence for the last quarter , in -which is a recommendation for a grant of £ 50 to the widow of a Bro . of the Caveac Lodge , No . 170 , London , which was confirmed by the Giand Lodge , according to the regulations . The report of the Board of General Purposes , as follows , was read : —

" In consequence of the last issue of tho 32 mo . edition of the Book of Constitutions being nearly exhausted , the Board hu \ e directed a reprint of 5 , 000 copies of that , edition . " A letter has bean receiven from Bro . Sigismnnd Rosenthal , P . M .. No . 4-35 , offering for the acceptance of Grand Lodge , on behalf of the Crafr , a portrait , painted by himself , of the Right

Honourable the Earl of Zetland , K . T ., Most AVorshipful Past Grand Master , in which letter Bro . Rosenthal states that the offer had the formal sanction of the Most AA'orshipful Past Grand Master , and that it was his Lordship's desire that the portrait , if accepted , should be placed in the Buard-room . The Board have consequently accepted the portrait , on behalf of the Grand Lodge , with a proper expression of thanks to Bro . Rosenthal , and have had it placed iu the Board-room accordingly .

"The Board beg to subjoin a statement of the Grand Lodge accounts at the last meeting of the Finance Committee , held on the 11 th August , 1 S 71 , showing a balance in the hands of the Grand Treaswer of £ 3 , 303 Gs . Sd . ; and in the hands of tho Grand Secretary , for petty cash , £ 75 . ( Signed ) J . LLEWELLYN EVANS , President . "Freemasons' Hall , London , 22 ud August , 1 S 71 . "

The report of a special meeting of the Governors and Subscribers of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged . Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , held at Freemasons ' Hall , on Tuesday , the 25 th July , 1871 , was laid before Grand Lodge , and the following proposed alteration of the rules , which was then agreed to , was , in accordance with the laws of the

Institution , submitted for the approval of Grand Lodge , viz .: — " That the following words in the second and third lines of Rule 42 of the Laws and Regulations be expunged therefrom subject to the approval of Grand Lodge , viz .: — ' And not less thiin one-third of the life donations received on account of each Fund . '"

After the Grand Secretary had read the report , Bro . Rucker , Chairman of the special meeting of the Governors at which the subject was discussed , explained in a lucid maimer the grounds upon which the Committee had arrived at that recommendation . He pointed out that in 1842 all the money received from various sources was funded . In 1 S 45 the amount of £ 2 , 600

being funded , it was resolved that one-third of the amount of donations and subscriptions should in future be funded . In 1853 , 1857 , and later on , various changes had been made from time to

time in the mode of appropriating the money . At the present time the building of the institution required repairs , and the committee considered that the money received ( except legacies' , instead of being funded should be applied ^ to the immediate requirements of the Institution .

The subject was fully discussed , Bro . Rucker entering into statistics concluded by moving the adoption of the report , which w-as seconded by Bro . Bristow . The motion was carried unanimously . It was stated during the discussion that the amount invested on account of the male and female funds amounted to £ 30 , 000 .

The Acting Grand Master then called up Bro . Matthew Cooke to bring forward the proposition of which he had given notice : — " That whilst this Grand Lodge recognises the private right of every Brother to belong to any extraneous Masonic organisation he may choose , it as firmly forbids , now and at any future time , all Brethren , while engaged as Salaried Officials under this Grand

Lodge , to mix themselves up in any way with such bodies as the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite ; tho Rites of Misraim and Memphis ; the spurious orders of Rome and Constantine ; the schismatic body styling itself the Grand Mark Lodge of England , or any other exterior Masonic organisation whatever ( oven that of the Order of Knights Templar , which is alone

recognised by the'Articles of Union ) under the pain of immediate dismissal from employment by this Grand Lodge . " Bro . Cooke having read his motion , went on to explain the reasons for ivhich he thought it desirable , in the interest of the Craft that such a resolution should be passed by Grand Lodge . Bro . Cooke , amidst frequent interruptions , and being frequently

called to order , and charged with using slanderous and libellous expressions , with the suggestion of the Grand Master , confined himself strictly to the subject of his motion .

A Seconder was found , we believe , in Bro . Booth , P . M , 130 . Several Brethren below the dais were immediately upon their feet , but Bro . Binckes having most persistently demanded the right to address the meeting , succeeded first ' m obtaining a heaving . He denounced the proposition , aud compared it with the slavish regulations of feudal times , when men were not allowed to

occupy their time after business hours as they pleased . He utterly denied the right of Grand Lodgo , or any other body , to interfere in such a manner as it was now proposed to do . He viewed , with alarm , the attack of Bro . Cooke , nominally upon tho employes of Grand Lodges , but iu truth was aimed at the Societies themselves , which he elected to called schisrr . atie .

Bro . Havers interposed , and differed with the broad principle laid down by Bro . Binckes that every man should have a right to occupy himself as he chose after business hours ; and pointed out that the words " whilst engaged as salaried officials under the Grand Lodge , " referred not only to the hours of service . Ho differed entirely with Bro . Binckes , and considered it the duty of

every person who thought it worth while to occupy himself in any particular calling , not to engage in any other occupation which was . inconsistent with his duties . It must not be forgotten , that in this case it was alleged that the employes of Grand Lodge were engaged in disseminating degrees which were not recognised by the Grand Lodge , and which would be inconsistent

with their duties as salaried officers . Bro . Cooke had adduced no proof , but had confined himself to making statements ! whilst he ( Bro . Havers ) disagreed with the spirit in which ' apparently , the statements of Bro . Cooke were made , he considered it a matter of grave importance to the Craft , and one that should be fully and fairly considered by Grand Lodge . If the allegations were true , aud he wished