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of Benevolence t : > a or the hoar of meeting , which he considered was the pie' -ogi'iivc of the Grand Master , Bro . J . Mason considered f hat tho lodge had the power . No time , he said , was fixed iu t ' . ieBook of Constitutions ; search having- been nvde in tbe records of tbe role , under which the hour of seven had been fixed for the time of meeting , but no trace

could be found . The M . AA . Grand Master was in doubt whether Bro . Simmonds had not allowed the fime to pass without making a proper motion , and he called upon the Grand Registrar to slate his views . The Grand Registrar was of the opinion that the change should not have been made , without the consent of the Grand Master .

Bro . Joshua Nunn having presided on tho occassion when the subject was brought forward , explained that the large amount of business now brought before the Lodge at each meeting compelled them to prolong their sitting frequeutly as late as eleven o'clock . It was , therefore , necessary that they should meet earlier . AA'if h all deference to the M . AV . Grand Master , and the

opinion of the Grand Rt-gislrai-, he believed that the Lodge had tho power to alter the time of meeting . The Grand Secretary then asked for instructions as to the time of meeting iu the future . He called attention to the fact that the circulars , addressed to all the Masics of Lodges had been sent out , aud that the hour was altered in the Calendar

Tor 1871 . The M . AV . G . M . then suggested that Bro . Simmonds fchould give notice of motion at the next quarterly communication , and pending a decision the Lodge might meet at six o'clock as proposed . The Report of the Board of General Purposes was then brought forward .

REPORT OF rne BOARD OF GBN-EKAI FUSTOSES . The Board of General Purposes beg to report as follows : — 1 . —That their attention has been di rected to the fact of the New Postal Cards having been made the medium for lodge summonses . The Board desire to direct the attention of the Members of Grand Lodge , and more especially Ui . "t of Secretaries to

Lodges , to the very ohjert \ r , n « o \ ena . i » :- , o of the above proceeding , and to warn ad Brethren that such an off . nee agai'ist Masonic decency will , if hi ought under the notice of the Board , be visited with their greatest displeasure .

2 . —The Board beg further to report , that on the afternoon o " 'Tuesday , the StVi November instant , a fire occurred in some workshops situated in Little Wild Street , iu the roar of the Societ y's ¦ freehold premises in Great Queen Street . The great window of the N : ' . w Banqueting Hall in tho Tavern and the windows of the Tavern kitchen were destroyed , likewise that the south end of

the Society's Great Hall sustained some damage . All the premises were insured . Tho Board immediately directed the Grand Superintendent of Works , to make ihe necessary survey , to Yalta steps for agreeing upon the amount of compensation with the Insurance Companies , and for having the injuries incurred made good .

3 . —The last edition of the Book of Constitutions heir . " exhausted , the Board have ordered a reprint , with such alterations as have been sanctioned b y Grand Lodge , with as little delay as possible . 4 . —The Board beg further to report , that in pursuance of the Resolution confirmed at the last Quarterly Communication , they have had the subject of the provision of . in Organ for use in

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Grand Lodge under consideratiou , and they hope shortly to make such arrangements on the subject as they trust will meet with the approval of Grand Lodge . 5 . —The Board heg to subjoin a Statement of the Grand Lodge Accounts at the last Meeting of the Finance Committee , held on the 11 th November , 1870 , showing a balance in tho hands of the

Grand Treasurer of £ 2 , 2 S 0 Ss . 8 d . ; and in the hands of the Grand Secretary , for petty cash , £ 75 . ( Signed ) J . LLEWELLYN EVA 3 J 3 ,

president-It was moved and seconded , without discussion , that the report he received and adopted . Reports of the Special General Meetings of the Governors aud Subscribers of the Eoyal Masonic Benevolent Institution for aged Freemasons and the Widows of Freemasons , held at Freemasons' Hall , on the 27 th day of January , 1870 , and on

the 15 th October , 1870 , respectively , were laid before Grand Lodge , and the following proposed alteration of the laws which was then agreed to was subraittod for the approval of Grand Lodge , viz : —To amend Rule 17 , by substituting the word " two " for " four " in the third lino , and the word " two " for 'three" in the ninth line thereof . Bio . Nunn proposed , and Bro . E . W . Stewart seconded , that the report , as road by the Grand Secretary , be adopted , which was carried unanimously .

The Grand Registrar stated that a communication had heen received from fciie District Grand Lodge of Bombay , stating that Bro . George Beasie having made his submission , had been restored to all his Masonic privileges . Bro . Bcase has consequently withdrawn his appeal , which was deferred froui the last Quarterly Communication , at the request of the District

Grand Lodge . - The motion of Bro . Brackstone Baker , P . G . D ., "That a sum of £ 100 be granted from the Fund of General Purposes to the fund now being rius . d under the auspices of the Dowager Marchioness oi' Lothian , in aid of the British and Foreign Refugees from France , under the title of the "Refugees' Benevolent

Fund , ' which is to be expended in this country , " was seconded by Bro . F . Bcnnoch , and carried unanimously . There heing no further business the Grand Lodge was closed in ample form with solemn prayer .

Metropolitan.

METROPOLITAN .

ROBERT BUENS LODGE , ( NO . 25 ) . —The regular meeting of this lodge was held at Freemason ' s Hull , on Monday , the 7 th inst . Present : -Bros . C . A . Long , W . M . ; AVatson , acting asS . W . ; Arnold ,- J . W . ; Welsh , Treas ; Dyte , See . ; AVingham , S . D . ; E . W . Long , J . D . j Powell , I . G . ; Past Masters Hartley , Nicholls , Bley . Dickcts , Members , Bros . Griffiths , Doody , AVhite , Potter , Neivliuid , Ford , MOIT ; , Lazarus Sawurd , Weliell , Pretty ,

Price , TIawkios , Wynne , G . Hawliins , Bellamy , Pearce , C . Long , Hedge , Fullmer , and several other brethren , Bros . Hicks , 25 ; Hemming , 1141 ; and Watson , 1302 , were present , as visitors . Bro . G . iltiths was ra i sed . Bro . Arnold was elected AV . AI . for the ensuing year ; Bro . AVulsh Treasurer ; and Bro . Bedford , Tyler . A jewel war unanimously voted to Lhe W . M ., Bro . C . A . Long , for the able and efficient milliner he had presided over the lod

ge during tlie past year . TmiPLE LODGE ( No . 101 ) . —The members of this numerous and influential lodge met on Tuesday at the Ship and Turtle Tavern , Lentlenball Streot , when the highly respected Master , the AV . Bro . F . J . Cox , suppo'ted hy Bros . Farthing , P . M . ; Pai-iiu , I'M . ; Beard , P . M . ; \ V . W-. Wynne , P . M . ; Hastalow , P . M . ; Grimsby , S . AV . ; Youle , J . AV . ; Bond , P . M ., Treas . ;