The Masonic Mirror.

to take one share , as it would be but £ 10 , they had made a good bargain , and ho hoped the committee would be supported in what they had done . ( Cheers . ) Bro . JESSE TUESEB , of No . 30 , said , with great humility , he -wished to make a few remarks on the reply of Bro . Havers , and he would endeavour to follow bim categorically on the

different questions as briefly as he could . In reference to the notice placed on the paper as to whether the Building Committee had granted a lease to the present tenant , Bro . Havers said they had not done so , but it appeared to be all but a fait accompli , and was already arranged . The next question asked , was whether they had given him permission to convert

the lease into marketable commodity by conveying it to a joint-stock company , and he submitted once for all that at tlie last Grand Lodge , when powers were given to the committee to arrange as to their future tenant , it was never thought or intended to turn tlie matter into a joint-stock speculation . Were they then to have their hands tied behind them , as he conceived

that powers were never given to the coinmittee to be used for purposes of this character . It was no part of their duty to join any company without coming to Grand Lodge , and as to 3 , 000 notices being sent to the lodges , he was not aware of anything of the sort , and the first intimation he had of it was hy seeing an advertisement in the Times newspaper . Bro .

Havers had said he should be glad if every member who took shares was a Mason , but he said that those outside the Grand Lodge did not like the speculation , and said it was a job ; for they had never given the committee power to turn their property over to a joint-stock company . Bro . WABKEJ . said that various points arose out of this question , which went far beyond whether the committee should let the lease of the property to a joint-stock company or to an

individual . The question had been discussed in lodges and by large bodies of Masons for years past , and the general opinion seemed to be that the tavern , as it was proposed to enlarge it , < : ouId not properly be carried out , except through the agency of a joint-stock company . Bro . George said he would confine the shares to Masons , and he ( Bro . Warren ) wished that he could , but with ten or twelve years' experience

of the Craft , during which lie had circulated tens of thousands of letters amongst them , and knew how they replied , he < lid not believe that it could be done . The new Tavern Company had sent out 3 , 000 circulars inviting Masons to take shares , but the replies were a per centage of 1 in 150 . They bad advertised in the Times , TeleyrapJi , Standard , Star , ancl other papers , and

there were 180 inquiries from Masons as tlie total result . To betweenl , 700 and 1 , 800 private letters there were hut 40 replies , and as not one-tenth of the required capital had been applied for by Masons , it showed that there was little chance of carrying the plan out with success if they relied upon tlie Masons only . Some time hence the shares of this company might find their

way into the hands of Masons through the market , but they would not take them lt \ the first instance . He hoped they would not tie the hands of the committee , but leave them to do the best they could for the interest of the Craft . They ivould have a good start with their property , and in a reasonable time they would get a fair return for their money . He

was not an auctioneer ; he was not a valuer ; but he had consulted many who were connected with taverns , and they assured liim that £ 1 , 800 was a good sum for rent , independently of the £ 5 , 000 pemium , and it appeared they were now to get both . ( Cheers . ) Bro . L __ EWE _ - __ Y 2 T EVANS , as a member of the committee , said tbey had endeavoured to get the best terms they could for their property , and they had really nothing to do with the

jointstock company . Not one of the committee had taken a share in it , and for the very reason that no charge should be brought agaiust them that they were interested in it . Now , a jointslock company if properly carried on , might be a very paying concern , and at the same time prove a benefit to themselves . He thought the committee could not do better for them than to

accept a fair rent with such covenants in the lease as would enable them to enforce the business being carried on in sucli a way as to be satisfactory and for the benefit of the Craft . Bro . ABI-AHAM , of the Joppa Lodge , approved of the formation of a company composed of gentlemen with plenty of ital ; andas the brethren had not taken shares when they

cap , had tlie opportunity of doing so , lie thought they would do well to give the outer world some benefit as well as themselves , for he had no doubt that many of these gentlemen of the Stock-Exchange would be initiated , passed , and raised , and become members of the Craft . It would be advantageous to have men of large capitaland as the committee had taken the advice of

, some of the first auctioneers in the country , if , they had taken too little , they had done their best for the Craft . He hoped the motion for the confirmation of the minutes would be unanimously carried , and thus strengthen for the future the hands of the committee . Bro . Col . A . LOIVEY COLE , S . G . W ., was glad to hear that

explanation from Bro . Havers , as there was a strong feolmg upon the subject amongst tlie members of the Craft . He should like to hear from Bro . Havers information upon another point , whether the lease could be transferred from the company , for if it was to become a commercial commodity and bought and sold that would be most objectionable . Bro . HAYEKS , P . J . G . W ., said he had great pleasure iu

answering that question . Amongst other very stringent covenants , one most important one was that on no account should the lease be transferred without the consent of Grand Lodge . Bro . GBEGOKY , P . J . G . D ., supported the decision which was come to at the last quarterly communication . He was sure that there was one word which had dropped from Bro . Turner which

he would be most anxious to withdraw . In their meetings they ought to avoid recriminations , and he felt sure that the brother who used the word "job " would be very glad to withdraw it . Bro . HorwooD , P . J . G . D ., said he considered the discussion which had taken place was , to his mind , very profitable , for ho was astounded when he heard that their property was about

being consigned to a joint-stock company . With the explanation of Bro . Havers , that a large portion of the property would still remain in their own hands and for their own personal convenience , it satisfied him , and he should vote for a confirmation of the minutes .

Bro . SxE-JEi-S-G , S . G . D ., was sorry to hear the observation which had fallen from a brother that a job had been perpetrated , which implied that some advantage had been come to for the purpose of benefitting a third person . Now , he challenged inquiry , or let the observation be withdrawn . Fe had devoted an immense deal of time to this matter , and had come up to

London at least twenty times on the business , and anything he had done was to protect the interest of Grand Lodge , and they had consulted other persons , rather than being influenced by their own judgment as to the proper price that should be given for their property . It was , therefore , very disagreeable to be met with an insinuation of that kind . If there was anything

in it let them have . it out . If there was an unguarded one let them be frank and generous , and withdraw it . If there was anything in it let them have a full inquiry . They must let the property go out of the hands of the Grand Lodge , for they could not be tavern keepers themselves , and a body of gentle-