Grand Lodge.

' Resolved—That our delegates to the next meeting of the Grand Lodge be instructed to call the attention of that body to the subject , and furnish it with all the facts within their knowledge . M . H . WOODLUEL , Sec . "A true copy from the minutes . " W . M . Foissox , Sec . St . John's Lodge ( No . 1 ) .

" Nov . 1 , 1865 . " A long statement hero follows , explanatory of the above , in which it is alleged highly improper persons have been admitted into Freemasonry . On these different points the Colonial . Board reports as follow : In pursuance of the direction given by the M . W . Grand

Master , this Board has considered the reported procceedings of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina so far as relate to the said statements and allegations , and now reports to Grand Lodge : — 1 st . That they have no facts before them to show , or means of ascertaining , whether the said statements and allegations are true or not . Or whether tho Halifax lodges—viz ., the Athol

Lodgo ( No . 05 ) , and Keith Lodge ( Xo . 36 or GL)—if in fact there be any such Masonic lodges in existence—had authority to work under the rite or constitution of the Grand Lodge of Scotland . But tho Board feel relieved from the necessity of any investigation on those points , for the reason that neither of the lodges referred to were , or are , under the jurisdiction of

the Grand Lodgo of England ; neither were they amongst the lodges which were continued under the Grand Lodge of England , anil excepted from tlie j vn-isdiction of the Grand Lodge of ¦ Canada when that Grand Lodge was recognised by the Grand Lodse of England .

2 nd . That the said report especially refers to " tho action of the Masonic congress at Paris " as an authority against admission of candidates for Freemasonry being limited to lodges acting under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of tho country of their fixed residence ; but it is not stated in the said report by what authority such congress assembled , or the powers

vested in the members thereof , enabling them to legislate on that or any other subject connected with the Craft ; neither is it pretended that the Grand Lodge of England was represented at the same , and , therefore , lodges acting under warrants from the Grand Lodge of England cannot be bound by anything that was done at the alleged congress . Nevertheless , the

Board of opinion—That while there are strong objections to the indiscriminate initiation of any-persons whatsoever into tho mysteries of the Craft , there is no objection to the initiation of , and giving degrees to , sojourners who are known to any of the brethren , and who are also well and worthily recommended ,

and provided that in all respects there is full and perfect compliance with the provisions contained in the " Book of Constitutions . " 3 rd . That from information from time to time derived from the district lodges abroad , working under the authority of the Grand Lodge of England , the Board feels bound in justice to

the brethren of such district lodges to say that , in their belief , proper attention and caution are observed by the members of the same lodges to all the requisites previously to initiation , as well as to the rules laid down in the " Book of Constitutions . " And , further , that the proceedings of sneh lodges are usually conducted in conformity with the ancient landmarks of the

Order . 4-th . In conclusion , the Board cannot hut express regret that the statements and allegations contained in the said printed report have been permitted by the Grand Lodge of North Carolina to go forth , as inasmuch as it might have been easily ascertained whether the Athol Lodge , No . 65 , or the Keith

Lodge , No . 3 G or 01 , Halifax , Nova Scotia ( for here it may be noticed that the Committee of Masonic jurisprudence were uncertain by which of the two numbers the last-mentioned lodge should be designated ) , were working under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of England or not ; and if due care had been observed by that Committee , the scandal and reflections upon

lodges alleged to have been working under the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of England might have been avoided , and tho Grand Loilge of North Carolina would , it is presumed , in such case have abstained from passing the said resolution in reference to the matter contained iu the report . ( Signed ) J . S . S . H OPWOOD , President .

Freemasons' Hall , London , November 5 th , 1867 . Bro . HOPWOOD , President , moved that the report be received and entered on the minutes , and that a copy of it should be sent to the Grand Loilge of North Carolina .

THE BUILDIXG COJMITTEE . The following report of the Building Committee was presented : — The Committee beg to report that the work entrusted to them is , so far as the buildings are concerned , now completed-The first stone was laid in April , 1861 , the new Freemasons '

Hall was finished in February , 18 G 6 , and thc rebuilding of the Tavern is now concluded . The tenants of the Tavern have for some time had possession , and their occupancy at the increased rent commenced on the 11 th of November . It will be right that , having reached this period , tho Committee should place before Grand Lodge a short

recapitulation of their proceedings as contained in former reports . The orig inal cost of the new buildings was estimated at about £ 50 , 000 . The contracts for the building proper amounted to £ 44 , 089 ; this was not inclusive of repairs to the old buildings , or of any extras . The total amount of monies paid up to the present time is

£ 58 , 809 3 s . 3 d ., and there will be other charges which will probably amount to £ 3 , 000 in addition . This will , doubtless , at first view , appear a very large sum . Your committee can only repeat that they have spared neither pains or personal trouble to avoid any expenses which were not absolutely necessary , and they refer—first , to what they have said in former reports as to

the unavoidable expense arising from the necessity for shoring , underpinning old walls , pumping , drainage , ancl general repairs to tbe old tavern ; and , secondly , that the sum above referred to includes many charges which cannot properly be considered as being part of the cost of the building , but which the committee include because the money has passed through their

hands , and they feel it to be their duty to give an accurate account of their stewardship to Grand Lodge . It will thus be found that , with the exception of the purchase of land , and of marble columns , none of these expenses could have been avoided . As regards the latter , the committee felt that in so noble a building it would have been a sad mistake for

all time if they had permitted any sham to find a place in it ; as regards the lacd , the committee are more than ever satisfied that the acquisition of it is most valuable , not only as affording a means of entrance at the south , but as preventing the possibility of inconvenience ! which might have arisen from the construction of any other large building in close proximity to

Freemasons' Hall . It may be added that the land in question will probably produce a fair return for the outlay . The building of Mr . Malby ' s workshops , though an actual necessity , cannot properly be included in the cost of Freemasons ' Hall ; it is now paying 7 _ per cent , for the outlay , and at the end of the ten years' lease will pay double that interest . The