Grand Lodge.

"The Board have also to report , that in order to render the property proposed to be purchased of Mr . Solomon available for the wants of the Society , they found it necessary to enter into arrangements with the lessoc ' of the houses , now the property o'f the Society , and situated on the opposite side of Queen's Place , to surrender the lease , of which nearly seven years still remain unexpired . The representatives of the late Mr . Hyatt , the lessee , have agreed to surrender the lease , and give up possession at Christinas Day next , for the sum of £ 200 ; and the Board recommend that Grand Lodge should authorize them to

carry out that arrangement . " The Board have also to report , that in consequence of Mr . Bacon withdrawing the offer he had made to rent some premises at the rear of the hotel , and situated in Middle Yard , Groat Queen Street , and Mr . Lambert , the late tenant thereof , having expressed his willingness to continue as tenant and to pay the increased rent that Mr . Bacon was to have paid , the Board have let the same to Mr . Lambert as a yearly tenant , at the sum of £ 50 a year . " The Board have also to reportthat in consequence of the great

, inconvenience experienced from the want of adequate light and sufficient ventilation in the Hall and Temple , they are engaged in an inquiry as to the most suitable mode of obtaining these results , and they have directed a sub-committee to try some experiments in lighting the Hall , at ail expense not exceeding £ 20 ; and that these experiments are now in the course of trial . "The want of a Censer to be used at the dedication of Lodges and other Masonic ceremonies having been frequently felt , the Board beg to report that they have directed one to be purchased . And they

recommend that the M . W . the Grand Master be respectfully requested to give directions that the vessels used at the consecration of Lodges , and which are the property of Grand Lodge , be allowed to be used at the consecration of any private Lodge which may apply for their use . Such vessels to be under the charge of the Grand Director of Ceremonies ; and the expense of removal , and any damage or loss which may occur , to bo made good by the Lodge applying . " The Board have further to report , that having received a report from the Library and Museum Committee , they are of opinion that it

is highly desirable , both for the interests of the Order and for the advantage of the Brethren generally , that a fitting and proper room should be provided as a Museum and Library , which should be open to all members of Grand Lodge under proper regulations . That an earnest invitation be addressed to Brethren of the Order , wheresoever situate , inviting contributions of Masonic Works , or of any objects tending to illustrate the Order ; accompanied by an assurance that the Board will spare no efforts to cause a suitable and fit repository to be provided for their reception .

" The Board have finally to report , that a complaint was preferred against the Wellington Lodge , No . 805 , Lewisham , by a Brother , for illegally excluding him . On due inquiry into all the circumstances , the Board found that the Lodge had failed to comply with the requisitions laid down in the Book of Constitutions , inasmuch as they had given that Brother no regular notice of the time wdien the alleged cause of complaint against him would be taken into consideration . The Board have therefore decided that his exclusion is invalid , and that he is consequently still a member of the Wellington Lodge , No . 805 . "

W . Bro . ROXBURGH moved that the foregoing report be received and entered upon the minutes , and the motion having been seconded was unanimously agreed to . The purchase of Mr . Solomon ' s property was then regularly sanctioned , and a conversation arose upon the subject of the lighting and ventilation of the Hall . The first was exceedingly brilliant , but the latter was very indifferent . In the course of the conversation it was stated that several professional architects , members of the Craft , were upon the committee for superintending the experiments which are

being made for both these purposes ; and the M . W . the G . M . suggested the adoption of a system of ventilation which he has in use in his own house in Yorkshire , and which he considered most efficient , it being the system of Mr . Watson , of Wakefield . With regard to the new censer the G . M . said , he had no objection to give his consent to its being used at the consecration of private Lodges , provided it did not go out of the possession of the Grand Director of the ceremonies , or of the Grand Tyler . BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE . The following P . M . ' s were elected upon the Board of Benevolence , namely , Brothers Adlard , Barnes , Barrett , Burton , Gay , Ireland , Isaacs , Lambert , Odell , Sheen , Wilson , and Young .

THE CHARGE . Bro . Rev . WILLIAM WESTHAI . I . then moved : — "That the Charge at the Initiation of an Entered Apprentice be printed and bound up with every future edition of the Book of Constitutions . "

Bro . SAVAGE seconded the motion , which , on a division , was lost by a small majority . ATTENDANCE AT THE BOARD OF BENEVOLENCE . Bro . Rev . WILLIAM WESTIIALL , then moved : — " That in the Book of Constitutions , page 20 , sec . 8 , Edition , 1855 , to leave out all from the word 'attend' to the end of the section , and insert the following : — 'The immediate Past Master may supply his place ; should that Brother be unable to attend , some other Past Master of such Lodge

may act for him , but iu every case the Past Master must be a Subscribing Member of that Lodge . ' " The object of the present motion was to give the immediate P . M . the right of attending should the W . M . be unable to do so , and in the case of the illness of the immediate P . M ., to pass on that right to one of the other P . M . ' s , without the necessity of a letter from the W . M . W . Bro . ROXBURGH cordially supported the alteration , as it would he thought be productive of great convenience . W . Bro . SAVAGE also supported it .

W . Bro . WAKRUS would enlarge the attendance and permit the presence of any P . M ., provided lie was a Subscribing Member of a Lodge , either the Lodge of which he was P . M ., or any other Lodge . The M . W . the G . M . intimated that such an extension of the right of attendance was out of the question . The motion was then agreed to .

REPORTS OF BOARDS . Brother RALPH A . BENSON next moved : — "That all reports of Boards and Committees shall , in future , be printed and circulated on their presentation to Grand Lodge . " Some he was aware mi ght think it a reflection upon the manner in which such reports had been hitherto presented to G . L ., and especially the report of the Colonial Board at the last meeting of G . L . ; and to some extent it was so , but not the slightest discourtesy was intended to be shewn . The Brethren iu September last , complained with some measure of justice , that excluded from of

they were an opportunity patiently and thoroughly considering the report of the Colonial Board . That report the Grand Sec . read to G . L ., as in duty bound , but that was all . The Brethren generally therefore had , in the after discussion of it . to rely upon their recollection for a knowledge of its contents , and as some of them were cursed with shorter memories than others , it was impossible that they could carry in their heads all that was read to them . All that ho now asked was that , for the future , in order that such a thing might not again occur , ail reports should bo printed previously

to the meeting of G . L ., and circulated among the Brethren , so that they might have before their eyes what they were called upon to consider , and judge accordingly . ( Hear , hear . ) Any Brother who on the last occasion might , from accidentally sitting near the G . M ., have obtained a copy of the Colonial Reports , would acknowledge what an assistance it would be to the Brethren in their deliberations , if they were , for the future , to have the same advantage which he then accidentally , no doubt , acquired . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) Each Brother wouldby that meanshave an opportunity of juding for

, , g himself , and would not have to trust to his own memory , or to the impression which the reading of the report might have made upon the mind of another . It would be especially useful to the officers of the country Lodges , who would thus have ail opportunity of knowing what matters of importance were to be discussed at G . L ., " so that they might come up either to oppose or to support them , as they might think best . He apprehended there would not be the slightest objection to his motion . W . Bro . MATHEWS , P . G . W ., of Gloucester , then seconded the

motion . W . Bro . HAVERS said , as some allusion had been made to the circumstance of his having an advantage over the other Brethren on the last occasion , inasmuch as he had a copy of the report of the Colonial Board which they had not , he wished to explain that there was in that circumstance nothing unfair or unconstitutional . ( Oh ! oh !) It had ever been his custom since he became a member of Grand Lodge , if any matter in which he felt an interest was coming on for discussion , to make himself fully acquainted with it . He had

therefore been in the habit of going to the G . Sec , and requesting permission to copy the necessary documents ; and he had never been refused that permission . He did so on the last occasion , and he had since made inquiry and ascertained that no Brother had ever been denied the same privilege . Of course , if a Bro . made application for leave to copy a report before it was submitted to the Committee of Masters , he would not be allowed to do so ; but after it had been so submitted it became in a manner public property , and any Brother might copy it for his own information . There was no necessity for the motion , as the Boards had now the power of printing any matter not libellous they might think necessary for the consideration of the Brethren . W . Bro . ARIA supported the motion , as he considered it would be