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last meeting . He would not attempt to discuss the question on religious grounds , though ho believed he might do so successfully . . He bad always doubted the propriety of lodges or chapters meeting on a Sunday , and , moreover , the " Book of Constitutions " in the ancient charges distinctly told them they were to work diligently on all lawful working days—drawing a distinction between those days and others—and further going

on to say , that they might live creditably on holy days . Their Jewish brethren had not asked for any chapters with which they were connected to be held on the Christian sabbath , and , indeed , though strictly observing their own sabbath , many Jewish families enjoyed the quietude of our sabbath . / Bro . AA ARREN took the same view as Bro . Savage , they being

bound to obey the laws of the country in which they lived , to which those of Masonry could not be opposed . The only argument ever brought before the Committee of Grand Chapter in support of the application to meet on a Sunday was , that in some parts of the country the companions lived so far apart as to be unable to attend their chapters on any other day—an

argument which only showed that the holding such chapters would be a desecration of the sabbath as established hy law , which they , as Masons , could not sanction . Comp . LL . EVANS thought they need wish no further arguments against the practice of holding chapters on a Sunday than those contained in the " Antient Charges , " ivhich , in his

opinion , was conclusive . Comp . HAVERS , in putting the question , expressed his concurrence in the views so ably enunciated by Comp . Savage . The question had been frequently raised , and ho should be glad to see it set at rest by the confirmation of the minutes of last Grand Chapter . The question was then put , and the amendment having been

negatived , only four hands being held up for it , the minutes were confirmed . Comp . SAVAGE then moved the confirmation of the decision of the committee suspending the Alfred Chapter ( No . 306 , late 30-1 ) , Leeds , from all Masonic functions , no proper return having been made since 1 S 14 , ancl the principals not having forwarded their charter and books to the General Committee of Grand Chapter as

frequently required to do . Comp . MEYMOTT suggested that it would be advisable to give the chapter a little further time , inasmuch as some of the summonses had been acknowledged , though the information required had not been given . After a short conversation , in which it was explained by the

Grand E . that the summonses had been sent to the residence ofthe First Principal , the suspension was confirmed . Comp . SAVAGE then brought forward the following paragraph in the report of the committee : — " The committee have likewise to report that they have received an application from the High Cross Chapter ( No . 751 ) , Tottenham , praying for

permission to remove to No . 5 G , Crutched Friars , in the city of London . The application is accompanied with the approval of the High Cross Lodge , to which this chapter is attached , to the proposed removal . The committee consider the application is regular in form , but leave it to Grand Chapter to determine as tothe expediency or otherwise of a removal ; merely observing that the

charter was originally granted on the ground that the chapter was to meet at some distance from London , although within the London district . " He reminded Grand Chapter that they had been in the habit of granting new warrants , to hold chapters in the suburban districts , it being understood that they were not to be removed into London proper . Under the circumstances , the committee had not made any report on the subject , but left it to Grand Chapter to decide on the petition .

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Some conversation ensued , in the course of which Comp AA ilson , who was present , stated that he was the only member of the chapter resident at Tottenham , and moreover , it was admitted that there had never been any great support given to the chapter in Tottenham—the three Principals named in the warrant having been all residents in London . Under the circumstances it was suggested that the chapter , instead of being removed ,

ought rather to be erased , and it was ultimately resolved to adjourn the further consideration of the question , it being remitted tojhe General Committee to inquire into , ancl report on , the circumstances to next Grand Chapter . The following petitions were then considered : — From Comps . the Rev . Adolphus F . A . Woodford as Z ., the

Rev . Thomas B . Ferris as H ., Joseph Buckton as J ., and seven others , for a chapter to be attached to the Philanthrojjic Lodge ( No . 304 ) , Leeds , to be called the "Philanthropic Chapter , "' and to meet at the private rooms , No . 1 , Bond-street , Leeds ,, on the second Monday in each month . From Comps . George Price as Z ., AVilliam Locock AVebb as

H ., Curthbert Henry Woodward as J ., and nine others , for a chapter to be attached to the East Surrey Lodge of Concord ( No . 463 ) , Croydon , Surrey , to be called the " East Surrey Chapter of Concord , " to meet at the Railway Hotel , Addiscombe-road , Croydon , on the third Wednesday iu January , April , July , and October in each year .

From Comps . Ezekiel Nathan as Z ., Sydney James as II ., Julius Hyman as J ., and nine others , for a chapter to be attached to the Otago Lodge ( No . 814 ) , Dunedin , Otago , New Zealand , to be called the "Chapter of Otago , " to meet at the Shamrock Hotel , Dunedin , Otago , on the first Thursday in September , November , January , March , May , ancl July in every year . Thewhole of the charters were granted , the latter , however , subject to the approval of the lodge being obtained . Grand Chapter was closed shortly after nine o'clock .

Australia.

AUSTRALIA .

( From the Melbourne Masonic Journal . ) NEW FREEMASONS' HALL , QUEENSTOWN . On AA ednesday , August 5 th , a ceremony took place in Queensland of no common occurrence , and ivhich in all countries anil among all people carries an amount of prestige seldom attendant on ceremonies of a like nature , unless honoured by the presence of royalty , viz ., the laying the foundation stone of the first

Masonic Hall in the province of Otago , which , upon completion , will leave another imprint on the great- road of civilisation and order , and be for ever a sign among future generations of the exertion , enterprise , and enthusiasm of that most honoured order , the Freemasons , by whose united efforts a building is being erected—the fair proportions , stern solidity , and picturesque position of which will be an ornament to our town and a monument of our progress . By erecting an edificehaving

, for its object the advancement of our moral ancl social condition , the elevation of our tastes , and where we may sojourn after the busy hours and fatigues of the clay are passed in cheerful communion with our fellow-men , ancl thus feel ourselves repaid by each other's society for the loss we have sustained in our feverish anxiety for the mammon of this world . The building is twenty feet wide by forty in length , is built of stone , and of

the Norman order of architecture , modified : the Hying buttress ancl other minor details of that order being dispensed with , to prevent the unnecessary absorption of funds through profuse ornamentation . Too much praise cannot be awarded to the Freemasons for being instrumental in erecting an edifice of this class in the midst of us , and among wilds a few short years since comparatively unknown—whose woods were only trodden by

their porcine occupants , and the only voices echoing across our Lake among the snow-capped hills and beetling rocks were those of the feathery tribe . The Freemasons met at Bracken ' s Commercial Hall , and or-