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Both adjournments were unanimous , both were agreed to m the absence of the G . M . of England . In the one case he recommended G . L . to adjourn , implying that the power was not with himself : in the other he acquiesced for two months without objection in the act of G . L . The distinction is so subtle that we must confess ourselves unable to discriminate

between the two . But abandon the arguments derived from precedent , and it is clear that if private lodges both claim and exercise the power to adjourn , —in calling from labour to refreshment , —a fortiori G . L . which is as the greater to the less , the whole to the part , cannot be without an equal authority . But it was contended that the

presence of the G . M . of England is essential to the legality of the proceedings . If this be trae , we fear much that an infinitesimally small proportion of the measures passed by G . L ., with the approval of the craft , are valid . But surely if , as it is reasonable to believe , the G . M . of

England and G . L . can , by a concurrent action , adjourn a meeting , so , also , the provisional G . M . - who is his representative—can , conjointly with G . L ., exercise an equal power . " Qui faeit per alium , facit per se , " is an axiom as old as the hills , and a principle , which we recognise , equally in the hig hest branches of law or politics , and in the ordinary

transactions of daily life . In conclusion , dismissing all argument , which we fear is useless , we would ask the Dais one question . If the adjournment was illegal , why were we not sooner apprised of the infraction of the law , into which we had been inadvertently betrayed ? If , as the G . M . in his circular stated ,

there be " a solemn obligation" to interpose at a late stage of the proceedings , why not an equally solemn obligation to interfere at an earlier period ? If it be a duty to correct a wrong done , it is still more a duty to anticipate the evil in its origin ; and an ambiguous silence ethically differs little from approval .

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E VERY one must have felt regret for the very unpleasant position into which the M . W . the G . M . was forced on the 9 th inst . To a nobleman , singularly benevolent and honourable , it must have been extremely painful . To be p laced in the chair for the purpose of forcibl y preventin g free discussion—to be compelled to gag G . 'L . for fear they

should censure conduct on the part of the executive , at which they felt themselves aggrieved—to lie under the imputation of unfairness—to be charged with arbitrary and unconstitutional conduct , and in place of meeting the charge , to escape from it by silencing the accusers—this is the price at which the Dais compelled the M . W . the G . M . to

do their dirty work . We can well imagine that to many members of that august body , it must have been infinitel y diverting to witness the helpless disapprobation of all fair men , at the apparently partial enforcement of the silent svstem . What was sauce for the goose , was by no means

thought a fit condiment for the gander . The opinions of the speakers affected their treatment in no slight degree ; but while some of the purple aprons may have chuckled at their temporary triumph over the authority of G . L ., and the right of free discussion , obtained even by such means as these , we believe the great majority of the craft , when they

read the account of what passed , will agree with us that it was " no canny" to place an English nobleman in such a false position as regards G . L . —in one which we are quite certain was equally distasteful to himself as to them . The members of the Dais are , most of them , socially , worthy and excellent masons ; but whatever may be the

cause , certain it is that collectively , not only do they oppose every useful measure that is brought forward , but they assume a conscious air of patronising superiority towards the great body of G . L ., as offensive as it is ridiculous ; like little Jack Horner , they seem never tired of saying " What a good boy am I !"

We sb all shortly take an opportunity of investigating how far the Dais is entitled to the confidence of the craft , by giving a brief sketch of the different measures of internal and

external reform proposed in G . L . withm the last few years , and the line adopted by the purple aprons upon each occasion ; and if it shall appear that their exertions and combinations are always for factious and obstructive purposes , we trust that they will at least appreciate themselves at their proper value , and in place of attempting to overbear and

beard G . L ., will subside into quiescence , like the owls in the " happy family . " Of the Grand Secretary ' s office , —the compound double extract of purple , —it is needless to say more than that any mercantile company would be bankrupt in a week whose affairs were managed in the same way ; and that if English

lodges were created for the purpose of waiting three and six months for their communications , it would at any rate be advisable—if only for the civility of the thing—not to treat the Grand Orient of France in the same fashion . We must , in fairness add , that we believe the subordinates in that department to be hard-working and efficient

functionaries , and we only regret that their venerable chief will not either content himself with a general superintendance , or permit his brethren to express their sense of his long services by a substantial retiring pension .

Grand Lodge Of Emergency, Nov. 19.

GRAND LODGE OF EMERGENCY , Nov . 19 .

The M . Wthe G . M . summoned the G . L . of Emergency , on the 19 th of November , to take up the business at the point at which it terminated at the Quarterly Communications , in September last , and to ignore and declare null and void the proceedings of the adjourned Grand Lodge , held October 1 . The Eight Hon the Earl of Zetland , G . M ., presided in person , supported by Sir Lucius Curtis , Prov . G . M . of Hampshire , as D . G . M . ; T . W . Fleming , Prov . G . M . Isle of Wight ; B . J . Bagshaw , Prov . G . M . of Essex ; C . P . Cooper , Prov . G . M . of Kent , Dr . Kent , Prov . G . M . of South Australia ; T . H . Hall , Prov . G . M . of