The Masonic Mirror.

THE MASONIC MIRROR .

MASONIC MEMS . A Grand Conclave of Knights Templar is convened for Friday next , the 6 th Dec , at four o'clock , to transact " divers important and urgent business . "

A new lodge , entitled the Hornsey , is to be consecrated by Bro . Muggeridge , at the Albion Tavern , Stoke Newington , on the 18 th . We are happy to announce that the Right Hon . the Earl de Grey and E-ipon has kindly consented to preside at the Annual Festival of the Royal Benevolent Institution for Aged Masons and their Widows on the 29 th of January . The first meeting of the Stewards , of which there is already a goodly list , will take place on Friday next .

Grand Lodge.

GRAND LODGE .

The following is the official paper of Grand Lodge for Wednesday next , 4 th December , 1861 . The minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the 4 th September to be read and put for confirmation . Nomination of a Grand Master for the year ensuing . Election of twelve Past Masters to serve on the Board of Benevolence . The report of the Board of Benevolence for the last quarterin

, which are recommendations for the following grants , viz .: —• The Widow of the late Bro . T . M ., of the Royal Yorkshire Lodge , ( No . 332 ) , ICeighley £ 50 0 0 Bro . J . S ., of the Lodge of Union ( No . 45 ) , Chichester ... 50 0 0 Bro . R . H ., of the Lodge of Unanimity ( No . 424 ) , Penrith , 30 0 0

THE REPORT OF THE BOARD or GENERAII PURPOSES . To the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England . The Board of General Purposes beg to report that they have received and adjudicated upon the following complaints : — 1 . By the Senior Warden of the High Cross Lodge ( No . 1056 ) , at Tottenham , against the W . Master Elect , alleging that that

brother , who is also Treasurer of the lodge , is the master of the tavern at which the lodge meets , and that the transfer of his license to his brother-in law was only colourable , and for the purpose of enabling him to hold office . The Board having heard the statement of the brother complaining , and the explanation of the W . Master Elect , decided that no positive proof had been adduced before them that the W . Master Elect continued to be the actual master of the tavern ; but that the circumstances of the case were

such as fully to justify the Senior Warden ' s bringing the matter under the notice of the Board . 2 . By the Senior Deacon of the same lodge against the W . Master for not allowing- his lodge to meet on the 22 nd of August last , that being one of the regular days of meeting specified in the by-laws of the lodge . The W . Master explained that the only business to be transacted was the Installation of the W . Master Electand that as he had notice that the validitof such election

, y was under the consideration of the Board of General Purposes , he thought he was only paying proper deference to the constituted authorities by not holding a lodge until the decision of the Board should be given . Having heard this explanation , the Board resolved that although the YV . Master was bound to hold his lodge on the days mentioned in the by-laws , yet , as ho had acted to the best of his judgment , and was influenced by no improper motive , he was not amenable to censure .

3 . By the Lodge of Benevolence against the Lodge of Unanimity ( No . -124 ) , at Penrith , for certifying that a brother had been a contributing member for 40 ; years and upwards , whereas Grand Lodge dues had been paid for 36 J years only . The Board were satisfied upon examination that the error was unintentional , and accepted the explanation of the lodge as satisfactory in everv , respect . The Board beg further to report that they have received plaints from the "VV . M . Elect of the High Cross Lodge at Tottenham : —one against a Past Master of the Lod

other two against the W . Master . All parties were duly summoned to appear and produce the warrant and books of the lodge . The W . Master produced the warrant , and stated that he was unable to produce the books , inasmuch as some members of the lodge had forcibly taken the books out of the custody of the Secretary , and had kept possession of them ever since . The books not being produced , the Board adjourned the hearing of the compliants till their next meeting . They also directed the hooks to be sent forthwith

to the Grand Secretary's office , retained possession of the warranty and suspended the lodge until the next meeting of the Board . The Board beg also to report that their attention hasbeen directed to the resolution adopted by Grand Lodge at its meeting in June last , by which the M . AV . Grand Master was empowered to appoint brethren of eminence and distinction to be members of GrandLodge , with such rank and distinction as he might think proper ; and to the resolution adopted at the same meeting of Grand Lodge , by

which it was resolved " That at and after the Grand Festival of 1862 two additional Grand Deacons should be appointed . " It has been stated to the Board that serious doubts exist as to whether the power given by those resolutions to the M . W . Grand Master , or a power similar thereto , hasbeen , by such ' resolutions , bestowed upon Provincial Grand Masters . The Board having given the subject their best attention , consider that it is very desirable that any doubts that may be entertained should be removed as soon as possible , and for that purpose they beg leave to recommend the adoption of the

following proviso to be added to each of the before mentioned resolutions : — " Provided that nothing nothing herein contained shall empower Provincial Grand Masters to make similar appointments in their respective provinces . " The Board beg farther to report that Messrs . Elkington and Co ., the present tenants of the Freemasons' Tavern , have applied to be continued tenants at will after the expiration of their lease in

June , 1802 : and also to have a renewal of their lease . The Board beg to recommend that Messrs . Elkington and Co . be accepted as yearly tenants on' the expiration of their lease , provided they agree to pay the same rent as at present , all sewers rates and land tax , and to be subject to their tenancy being determined by six months ' notice , at any of the usual quarter days . ( Signed ) iENEAS J . MCE STYRE , President .

Freemasons' Hall , 20 th November , 1861 . To the report is subjoined a statement of the Grand Lodge accounts at the last meeting of the Finance Committee , held on the 15 th inst ., showing a balance in the hands of the Grand Treasurer of £ 1435 15 s . llfl ! ., and in the hands of the Grand Secretary for petty cash , £ 50 . Of these sums there belongs to the Fund of Benevolence , £ 374 12 s . 6 d . ; to the Fund of General Purposes , £ 675 5 . ? . Id . ; and there is in the unappropriated account , £ 435 17 * . 10 d ., a portion of which belongs to the Grand Chapter .

The Report of the Colonial Board to the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England . The Colonial Board beg to report as follows : — The resolution passed at the Quarterly Communication of this Grand Lodge , in June last , approving and adopting the report of this Board of the 22 nd May last , in the matter of the complaint of the St . Lawrence Lodge ( No . 923 ) , Montreal , against the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Canada in relation to that lodge ,

was formally communicated to the authorities of such Grand Lodge , who were also informed that a copy of the said report of the it . W . the Provincial Grand Master for Montreal , and William Henry , therein referred to , had been forwarded , and the W . M . of the St . Lawrence Lodge was apprised of what had been done . An official letter has been received from the Grand Secretary 7 to the Grand Lodge of Canada , under date 18 th July last , from which he would appear to have received the communication in due course ,

but that the copy report of the Provincial Grand Master for Montreal did not , from some unexplained cause , reach him until after the meetings of the Grand Lodge of Canada in July had terminated . That Grand Lodge , therefore , had not before them a material part of the evidence on which the report of this Board of the 22 nd May last was based . It might have been expected that under these circumstances the Grand Lodge of Canada would , if not from a sense of common

justice at least out of courtesy to the Grand Lodge of England , with which it holds friendly and intimate relations , have deferred coming to a final decision on the case until the arrival of tho evidence and a due consideration thereof . It appears , however ,

from the official letter of the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge arf-Cmiada above referred to , as well as from a report from the of the Grand Lodge of England at the Grand Lodge under date the 5 th September last , giving a detailed proceedings at the meeting in July last , that the case ne forced on by the opponents of the St . Lawrence

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