Grand Lodge.

ill the prospectus was true with regard to the appropriation of the coffee-room exclusively to the Grand Lodge ; he was bound to tell the Grand Lodge that a large amount of money had been spent , and he never heard from Bro . Shrewsbury that the coffeeroom was to be confiscated from the Tavern Company . On the contrary , Bro . Shrewsbury had declared that by his agreement the coffee-room , now called the Clarence , belongs to the Tavern Company . It was a very serious and grave question

, and lie hoped and believed that the Grand Lodge would consider him incapable of doing anything hut his duty to himself as well as to them . He asked that the letter ho had written to Bro . Dobie , in whoso honour and integrity he had the highest confidence , might be read . He doubted if anyone in that Grand Lodge could lift his head so high or touch his heart so warmly as Bro . Dobieand he challenged any man of honour to

con-, trovert a single word contained in that letter . In conclusion he asked whether the 9 th clause of the agreement was worthy of the Grand Lodge of England . Bro . HAVERS said : The 9 th clause of which they had heard so much was as follows : —

it . Ihe said D . Shrewsbury or the Company shall bo at liberty to use the words 'Freemasons' Tavern ' for the purpose of forming the Company , but that name shall be abandoned at or before the occupation of the new buildings , and a new name , altogether unconnected with Freemasonry , shall be adopted , under a penalty of absolute forfeiture of the lease or the right to a grant thereof . " He contended that the trustees were perfectlat libertto

y y . adopt that rule . If it was considered to be offensive iu him to use the words of a "lawyer ' s letter , " he apologised for having done so . With the exception of the telegram bo never had any communication with any member of the Dickens' committee . Bro . Vallance had said they had acted unfairly to the widows ¦ and orphans under the ninth clause , but who ever drew that clause was responsible for it .

Bro . MASOX contended that these questions of law ought not to be brought under the notice of Grand Lodge , but let them look at the facts . The trustees entered into a contract with Bro . Shrewsbury , and in that there was a stipulation , that after a certain period the tavern that now bears the name of "The Freemasons' Tavern , " should cense to bear it , and have another . Whether this was right or not the fact was , that if Bro .

Shrewsbury had entered into a contract with the trustees of tha Institution , the assignees to whom it was transferred were bound byit . As a lawyer , he thought it was premature to draw on a discussion on legal points , for it had the effect of drawing Bro . Havers into a discussion of matters that ought not to be discussed iu Grand Lodge . Tbe committee had some disagreeable duties to perform , but whether he agreed or disagreed with them , he said they had done their duty , although , as ho had

said , he considered it wrong to discuss them in the Grand Lodge . Bro . BEXXOCH said that Grand Lodge had given notice to the tenants that the rent would be increased from the lltb of November , and before they could discuss that point they ought to refer to the solicitor's letter , which would speak for itself , but he understood that it was not here . Bro . WARREX rose to order . The letter was not before the

Board of Masters , and it was impossible for them to discuss it without notice . He should take his stand upon the "Book of Constitutions . '' Bro . BEXXOCH thought it would be desirable , as thoy had a large amount of business before them , for the comfort of members who were deeply interested in it , that they should . adjourn the question , and let this point be referred to the

committee for iurther investigation , lie moved as an amendment , that so much of the report as refers to the Freemasons' Tavern , be referred to a committee . The G . MASTER said be waited , without interfering , until they had arrived at that part of the discussion which had wandered very much from tbe point . There was nothing on which an amendment could be founded , as the motion was

. merely to allow the report to be entered on the minutes . The fullest latitude had been given to the discussion , but at the same time he thought that the discussion of the legal points could do no good . Nobody would be prejudiced , the company on one baud , or the Grand Lodge on tbe other , by receiving the report and allowing it to be entered on the miimtos . Bro . VALLAXCE : If the report is to be entered on the minutes , I hope my letter will go on the minutes also . I know your

lordship's deep sense of justice , and that you will not allow one part of tho case to go down to posterity and not the other . Bro . BEX ' XOCII persisted in moving his amendment . Bro . STEWART seconded it . Bro . TRUSC-OTT said , as Chairman of the Freemasons' Tavern Company , he stood there to answer some charges that hud been made by the Chairman of the Building Committee . Ho said the Company was composed of merchants , Masons , and others ,

to whom he should not do justice if he did not stand forward and say that what the Chairman of the Building Committee had stated was not founded on fact , but was erroneous . He heard Bro . Havers toll the brethren that , if tho Company was founded , that it would be a good speculation , that it would pay 25 per cent ., and strongly recommended the brethren to take shares in it . Now , he took shares in it because he understood

it would be a means of advancing himself towards the Temple , but , whether rightly or wrongly , he believed to administer to the wants of Grand Lodge would be something in his favour . Bro . Havers and the Building Committee had intimated that they had been treated in a slippery manner by the Company , but that statement he denied in- tola . Ho inferred that they had kept money from the shareholders , which was totally

unfounded and untrue . He wanted to show the feeling of the Building Committee towards the Company . The rent was due on tho 21-th of June , but , as it was not paid until tbe 16 th of July , the Company received a letter from Bro . Gray Clarke , the

Grand Secretary , stating that he was instructed to apply once more for the rent due to the Grand Lodge , which was due at Midsummer last , and , if the money was not paid immediately , the matter would be placed in the hands of the solicitor to tho Grand Lodge . Bro . HAVERS : He never sent you that . Bro . Lord ELIOT , S . G . W ., rose to order , and said that matter had nothing to do with the question before them .

The G . MASTER said he was anxious to give the Company the fullest latitude to reply to the statement that had been made , but he trusted they would reply to tho strictures so offered , and not go into other matters . Bro . ALCERXOX * PERKIXS , acting J . G . W ., said he knew nothing about law—that he left to the lawyers—but if there were to be lawyers on the other side there ought to bo legal

. men on the side of Grand Lodge to answer them . i ¦ Bro . TUT-SCOTT regretted they should have been treated as they had been treated by the Building Committee , when for three years they had carried it on at a loss of £ 1 , 000 . If such a system was persevered in the tavern would be shut up , and a great loss to tho Craft must ensue . The G . MASTER put the amendmentwhich was negatived

, , and the original motion that the report be received and placed on the minutes was agreed to . As the letter referred to is of considerable importance iu elucidation of the debate which took place upon it , as well as being of great interest to the entire Craft , we here give it in

e . runso : — Moore-ate House , London , ' 2 nd Dec . 1 SG 7 . The Trustees of tbe Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons and the Freemasons' Tavern Company , Limited . Mdear Sir—Herewith I beg to forward to youas desired

y , , , an abstract of the assignment by Mr . David Shrewsbury to tiie Company of the agreement for lease , & c , which will disclose to you thc sums paid by the Company , in addition to the £ 5 , 000 premium to Grand Lodge paid by me into your hands ; these sums , you will perceive , iu the aggregate were £ 17 , 000 : making , with your premium , £ 22 , 000 . In reply to your reference to the 9 th clause of the

agreement between the trustees of the Socioty and Mr . Shrewsbury , and requesting to know whether , in obedience thereto , the Company has changed its name , and if so to favour you with its proper description , I beg to say that tbe clause has not been hitherto considered to bear the interpretation your favour would seem to place upon it , inasmuch as it was thought to have been intended to applyso far as it mayto the "tavern" and not to the Company .

, There are several legal technicalities and difficulties created by statute law as to the Company changing their * name , which in my present view of this clause I need not more particularly allude to ; but if , as I think you will find , it is the tavern that is intended and not the Company , I am fully prepared to