The Masonic Mirror.

meeting of the Grand Lodge ; because such officers are their representatives , aud are supposed to speak their sentiments . " Having held the vieiA'S he had expressed upon the subject , he had lately made au application to the Grand Secretary iu Loudon , and that officer had kindly sent him doAA-n some particulars , ivhich showed the great distinguishable difference in the attendance of the London and the provincial brethren at Grand Lodge during the last two years . The returns he had received gaA-e him fche folloAving details in this respect : —

No . of No , of Quarterly Meetings , London Provincial Total . Brethren Brethren present . present . 1857—JtmeS 150 11 161

September 2 191 7 198 December 2 196 39 235 1858—March 3 178 42 220 June 2 148 30 178 September 1 104 11 115 December 1 212 40 252 1859—Jlarchl 213 46 259 June 1 130 42 172 Totals ... 1522 268 1790

These figures shoiA-ed that the attendance of London Jlasons had been four fifths more than that of the provincial brethren . He thought it was quite time something should be done to ensure to all an equal voice under equal opportunity of exercising it , such as vote , by proxy would create , and for tho purpose of bringing tbe question into the proper course of discussion , ho had prepared the folloiving memorial , ivhich he would read to the Lodge : — " ' To the Board of General

Purposes—, " The memorial of the Worshipful JIaster , Pasfc JIasters , AVardens , and brethren of the Lodge of ( Economy , No . 90 , in open Lodge assembled , —• " Showeth—That according to the Book of Constitutions , ' the public interest of the fraternity ( of Free and Accepted Jlasons ) are managed by n representation of all private Lodges on record , ' with the addition of a ( band JIasterGrand Officers & e . and that this collective bodis styled

, , , y 'The United Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Kugland . ' " The Quarterly Communications of Grand Lodge are held in London , where the general business of the society is transacted , and the various Hoards of Management are from time to time elected . "That while in theory such representation is - ' general , ' ifc is proved iu I'l-aetico to bo only ' partial ; ' the proportion of the London brethren

constituting more than four fifths of tho total attendance . ' ¦ ' That this inequality arises from the difficulties caused by distance mid expense under winch tho members of country Lodges labour as compared with brethren resident in the metropolitan district . "That though of late years these difficulties have been partially ¦ jbviated by the facilities afforded by extension of raihvay accommodation , yet the expenditure of timo and money still presents a serious obstacle to such an attendance of provincial brethren as is desirable .

"' That various plans have been devised Avith a view to promote such regular attendance , but the circumstances alluded to , and others which way be adduced , have only been attended with limited success . '' _ That your memorialists are of opinion that in the election of the rm-ious Boards of Management , some scheme should bo introduced by wliich the entire English Craft shall be fairly represented in Grand lod ge . They would therefore humbly suggest that ' voting by proxy ' ! , ( - adopted .

" Your memorialists therefore respectfully urge upon yonr Worshipful ward to take this subject into your consideration , and also to submit Hie same to Grand Lodge . And your memorialists will ever pray , & c . " Dated this 31 st of August , 1859 . " Bro . Durant , P . JL , said he begged to second the motion , and he could n '' t conceive that opposition could be offered to it either the part

any on "' the M . AV . Grand JIaster or any of his officers . He thought the "tentorial was worded in such respectful terms thafc they could not take "mbrageat it ; and more than that , he fancied they ivould be glad to "We the opinions of more of their brother Jlasons from the country , under the means proposed , to share in the management of the affairs of Je Craft . He thought the memorial , ivith any little clerical error thafc '" ay lie apparent , corrected , should be sent to the Board to which it was dressed

"' . kro . F . La Croix , S . AV ., asked IIOAV proxy napers would be managed , apposing tiie system were adopted 1 ' ihe AVorshi pful Master said , in ease the idea was received and adopted , 'lin m im S o £ ; t Avould not be difficult under the superintendence of "o orheei-3 duly appointed to the task . _ ro . Sherry said when they went to London under ( he present system

, V n ? Wei' ° pufc int ° theil ' llands , vith ,: erti " " names on them . They in merTir Ster Could ]' eoommend imy one of themselves for instance . Each abolrt Totlng , llltheoloctionssoratolled out a" the nominated names n- t & e number for election , leaving the fourteen he individually au

proved of for office . They might have proxy papers sent down upon the same principle . He certainly did not Avish to assume to himself the prescribing of any exact rule , but ( as in the wording of the memorial he had sought to express ) he wished to have some system adopted under which proxy votes could be received in London from provincial members ; and at fche same time the metropolitan members of Grand Lodge could exercise the same privilege . Bro . Oakshott , P . JL , said he must confess that he fully concurred iu

the motion then before the Lodge . He did really consider that—extending as the body w-as every year—it AA'as absolutely necessary every member should have a voice in the affairs of . Grand Lodge as far as possibly could bo managed ivith fairness , and he could not conceive any measure bettor calculated for that purpose than the one suggested in the memorial . Ifc was throughout most respectfully worded , and offence could not be taken with it ; at 'least if such a tiling should arise there would be no reason for it . All the provincial Jlasons wanted was a fair share in tho

doings of Grand Lodge , and they were not asking too much when they demanded it , when it was considered what heavy expense and inconvenience they were put to to be present at the time of Lodge meeting , compared to the advantage of metropolitan members . They thought tho best and fairest possible means for putting all on an equality was , the alloAving country Masons to vote by proxy . AATien they asked for that they were only asking for what they had a perfect right to expect . Since they sent a large sum of money every year towards tho general

fund they had a right to ask how it was expended , as well as to have a vote in its outlay . It ivas the case with subscribers to any public institution to have a vote regarding the general expenditure , and they , in the same way , had a right to join iu the regulation of the JIasonic disbursements . He was very much pleased to see Bro . Sherry take so much trouble and shoiv \ so much energy in regard to the affair ; he sincerely hoped the subjecYwould ' be met in a proper spirit by Grand Lodge , and he trusted that body would say all had a right to vote by

proxy . Bro . La Croix , S . AV ., called attention to what he thought must be a clerical error iu the memorial . He alluded to the word " universal . " The AVorshipful JIaster remarked that ifc would be necessary for brethren to confine their observations strictly to the matter before the Lodge . The memorial referred to members of Grand Lodge voting by proxy in the election of the'Boards of Jlaiiagement . Bro . Russ , P . JL , also observed upon the wording of the memorial . either

Ho supposed ifc ivas intended to ask for the privilege of voting by personal attendance or by proxy . The Worshipful Master explained that there was merely a slight error iu the transcription of the memorial . Bro . Jacob , P . JL , observed that the system of voting by proxy was already adopted in tho election of recipients of the charity benefits , a branch of their affairs ivhich commanded a great deal of interest . By adopting the prayer of the memorial he thought a good deal more union

and fellow feeling ivould bo observable . Bro . La Croix also thought it would tend in every way to raise the interest felt in the affairs of the Craft and increase their numbers . Bro . Smith asked whether , if . the question were brought before the Grand Lodgo , some plan should afc the same time be suggested or specified for carrying their idea into practice . He thought that would be better than merely expressing a wish to have a change , and leaving what they meant indeliuitelv stated . The distribution and collection of the proxies

would require arrangement . Bro . Jacob said every Lodgo being responsible for itself , no difficulty would be experienced in that respect . Bro . Everett , P . JL , thought there could be no objection to the ivay in Avhich the subject had been brought forward . For five or six years past a great deal of litigation and party feeling had exhibited itself in Grand Lodge , and there had been much more bitter feeling and animosity than there ought to have been . Out of good never cometh evil , It ivas

frequently said , but a great deal of evil arose out of the objectionable exhibitions sometimes taking place at Grand Lodge . He did not think thafc the creation of such ill feeling and animosity had anything to do with the manner in which Freemasonry was intended to bo carried out , and the sooner all jealousy was got rid of the better . Bro . Sherry then briefly replied . He said ho ivas exceedingly glad to find such a largo number of P . JIs . present that evening , showing , as ifc didthe interest Avith which they looked upon tho subject named in the

, notice paper calling them together . He believed there were more present that evening than there had been for some months . He would add just one word in respect to an observation thafc had fallen from . Bro . Smith , to the effect that some definite scheme should bo sent up for adoption . Perhaps it might bo forgotten that the Board of General Purposes performed the duty of framing all law's for the Order . As he proposed in the memorial he had that evening submitted to the Lodge ,

tlie best plan was to call upon the Board to introduce somo scheme themselves , that should recognize the principle recommended . They did not intend , to memorialize Grand Lodge , but the Board of General Purposes , that the latter in due course mighfc recommend to Grand Lodgo to take the subject into consideration . He thought it ivould be too dictatorial to send up their OAVU definition of the scheme to be adopted . The observations made by Bro . Sherry ivere very generally approved and supported by the ivhole body of tho Lodge . The Worshipful Master observed that the best thanks of the brethren