Grand Lodge.

time in the Lily Lodge , and the Board cannot too strongly reprehend such a practice . In the present case , however , having regard to the evidence adduced , the charge did not appear to the Board sufficiently proved against the complainants j and it was therefore resolved— "That in the opinion of this Board the evidence produced is not , on the whole , sufficient to justify the lodge iu excluding the appellants from membership . " The

parties having been recalled , the decision of the Board was communicated , and the warrant and books returned to the W . Master . 2 . It has been brought to the attention of the BoaTd that great inconvenience arises from the manner in which Grand Lodge certificates are now obliged to be prepared for taking an

impression of the . Grand Lodge seal , occasioning great waste of time . The Board beg to recommend that they be authorised to make such alteration in the mode of sealing the certificates as may to them seem advisable . ( Signed ) J . LIEWEILTN EVANS , Freemasons' Hall , May 16 tli , 1861 . President .

At the meeting of the Board , held on Tuesday , the _ 7 th clay of May , the ordinary business having been concluded , it was resolved unanimously : — " That this Board cannot separate without expressing to its President , the V . W . Bro . John Llewellyn Evans , its thanks for the uniformly courteous conduct he has shown to each and every member , ancl its full appreciation of the able manner in

which he has conducted the business of the Board during the past year . ( Signed ) J . RANKIN STEEIIING , Vice-President . To the report is subjoined a statement of the Grand Lodge accounts at the last meeting of the Finance Committee , held on

the 13 th instant , showing a balance in the bands of the Grand Treasurer of £ 1 , 875 17 s . Id ., and in the hands of the Grand Secretary for petty cash £ 50 . Of these sums there belongs to the Fund of Benevolence £ 1 , 291 10 .. 6 d ., to the Fund of General Purposes £ 187 Is . 10 cJ ., and there is in the unappropriated account , £ 117 & s . 3 d .

9 . —REPOET OE COMMITTEE ON GEAND LODGE PROPERTY . To the United Grand Lodge of Ancient , Free , and Accepted Masons of Fngland . The committee beg to report , in reference to the new buildings , that in getting out the ground for the foundations very serious difficulties were encountered ; these arose partly from

the unsound condition of the ground itself , partly from the large quantity of water found therein , and partly from the very unsatisfactory nature . of the old sewers ; these difficulties , which caused considerable delay , and entailed the necessity of much precaution in shoring , underpinning , < S _ c , have been satisfactorily overcome , and the buildings are now rapidly progressing .

The Grand Superintendent of Works reports , that all reasonable exertion has been used by the contractor , and that the character of the work has been hitherto creditable to him . The committee cannot refrain from congratulating Grand Lodge and the Craft on the success attending the ceremony of laying the foundation-stone on the 27 th April ; though grateful

for much assistance , they attribute the success of that day , not so much to the exertions of any individuals , as to the genuine good feeling and Masonic conduct of every brother who attended pn that interesting occasion , and to the forbearance of the many who were unavoidably excluded . The committee feel that the time will shortly arrive when it will be necessary to decide upon the letting of tha future tavern . They have anxiously considered this subject , and taking into

consideration tbe inconvenience , loss , and possible injustice which may occur through a delay of several months after negociations are opened , and before any definite settlement can be eome to , they are of opinion that it is essential to the interests of the Craft , as well as of the tenant , that the Grand Lodge should authorise the committee to make the necessary arrangements in that respect , they therefore respectfully submit the

following resolution for the adoption of Grand Lodge , viz .: — "That the committee be , and are hereby empowered , to take the necessary steps on behalf of Grand Lodge , for the letting of the present and future tavern and the premises in Middleyard , upon such terms and conditions as may seem to them to be just ancl advantageous . " ( Signed ) JOHN HAVEES ,

Freemasons' Hall , May 17 th , 1861 . Chairman . 10 . The annual report of the Royal Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and their Widows , dated 20 th May , 186-1 , will be laid before the Grand Lodge . 11 . Tbe following resolution , passed by the Grand Lodge of Ireland on the 7 th April , 1861 , has been received from the Lord

Naas , representative of the Grand Lodge of Ireland in the Grand Lodge of England , viz .: — " That a communication be addressed by the Grand Lodge of Ireland to the Grand Lodge of England , requesting them to state officially to the Grand Lodge of Ireland the position which a Past Master under the Irish Constitution occupies , or is entitled to occupy , in a lodge under the English Constitution , and to what extent the Grand Lodge of England recognises the degree of a Past Master under the Irish Constitution . "

PROPOSED MOTIONS . By Bro . John Udall , P . G . D . " That the sum of fifty pounds be given from the Fund of General Purposes to supply tho inmates of the Royal Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and their Widows with coals , and that the same be placed in the hands of the Secretary . " By Bro . J . Rankin Stebbing , S . G . D .

To follow article 21 , page 65 , of the " Book ot Constitutions . " " If the conduct of any member or members shall be such as to render it undesirable , in the opinion of a large majority of the lodge , that such member or members should continue to be a member or members thereof , he or they may be excluded from the lodge , provided that the following conditions be strictly fulfilled : -

" That tho motion for exclusion shall be made at a regular meeting of the lodge . " That seven days' notice of the intention to move such resolution shall be given to the member or members whom it is proposed to exclude , and to all the other members of the lodge . " That the decision upon such resolution shall be taken by show of hands , and shall be carried by a majority of not less than 10 to 1 of the brethren actually present and voting , exclusive of the member or members to whom the resolution

refers . " That tbe resolution be confirmed at tbe next regular meeting of the lodge . " When any member or members of a lodge shall be excluded under the foregoing regulation , the lodge shall repay him or them a proportionate part of any annual subscription which

has been paid in advance for any time subsequent to the date of exclusion , and likewise when any member of members shall be excluded within two years from the date of admission into the lodge , one-half of the fee paid for admission , whether on initiation or joining , shall be repaid by the lodge to such member or members . "