Grand Lodge.

a great service to the Craft in general It might not be convenient for every Brother to go down to the G . L . —indeed , for the Brethren of the Country Lodges , it would be almost impossible—and copy what documents he might require . If , however , they were printed and circulated among them , it would greatly expedite their decisions . W . Bro . SLIGHT said , when every Brother might by personal app lication obtain a copy of any report he might require , it was too ranch to ask G . L . to do for him that which ho could so easily do for

himself . If a Brother felt an interest in any matter , and could not find time to make himself acquainted with it , he ( Bro . Slight ) could not see why G . L . should be called upon to go to the expense of printing some thousand copies of a paper , the contents of which perhaps only one Brother wished to be acquainted with . As to the principle of the thing , if it were carried out they might refuse to confirm the minutes , because they had not iu their hands printed copies of them . ( Hear , hear . ) He would move as an amendment that G . L . should proceed to the consideration of the next business .

A BROTHER hero observed , that , as he understood the motion , its great object was , that when called to the discussion of any matter , they might have a perfect knowledge of what it was . ( Hear , hear . ) It struck him that that would be both most convenient and most proper . It would be above all things convenient to the Country Lodges , as it was of the utmost importance that the country members of G . L . should have an opportunity of knowing the real nature of the matter to be discussed at each quarterly communication . W . Bro . ROXBURGH opposed the motionon the ground that reports

, might contain libellous matter , and that the publication might safely be left to their discretion . E . W . Bro . Doims concurred with the last speaker . Bro . BENSON having briefly replied , the motion was put and negatived ; and it being past eleven , G . L . was closed in ample form and with solemn prayer .

Grand Lodge Of Mark Masters.

GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTERS .

The December Meeting of the Grand Mark Lodge took place at the Freemasons' Tavern , on Friday the 11 th of December : and on account of Lord Leigh ' s unavoidable absence , was presided over by Bro . Jones , S . G . W . ; with Bro . Ridgway , the G . Reg ., as S . G . W . ; and Bro . Barnard , as J . G . W . The Masters , Past Masters , and Wardens , of the several Lodges , which have now become numerous , attended in their places .- and amongst others , were representatives from no less than five of the old immemorial independent Lodges ; whom the resolutions passed in the last Grand Lodge had induced to give up their isolation

and form parts of this brotherhood of Lodges . The voluminous minutes of the last Grand Lodge were read ; and the only amendment proposed thereon was by Bro . Bnrrell , G / and Steward and S . W . of the Keystone Lodge , No . 3 ; who objected to the confirmation of those resolutions , which admitted the old isolated Lodges on terms of equality with those holding new charters , but with what he considered the unjust privilege of ranking without a number before the numbered Lodges . Bro . LambertGrand Stewardseconded the non-confirmation of

, , this portion of the minutes on the same grounds . Bro . Ridgway supported the confirmation of the minutes , and defended the resolutions . His Lodge , No . 4 , was similarly circumstanced to No . 3 ; but ho reflected that the Craft at the General Meeting iu May , and at the Committee thereat appointed , proved that they yearned for

a brotherly union of all the English Mark Lodges then isolated . That union , to bo lasting , must be eq nal and j ust . If equality was admitted between young Lodges and old Lodges , justice demanded that the old Lodges should have the place of honor . This he would claim to be the honest feeling of that Grand body ; and to be typified by the Grand Master , in the thorough English sentiments expressed in his published letters on the subject . Brother Matthews , as an old member for sixteen years of the Kent lodge of Mark Masters , welcomed these sentiments ; the liberal and

just terms offered had induced his Lodge to join this union ; long might they continue to flourish under the banner they had chosen , and he hoped many other Lodges would follow the example of the Kent . Bro . Lazarus agreed with everything which had fallen from the two last speakers . He had been a member for thirty-six years of the Royal Cumberland Lodge of Mark Masters at Bath ; and had the honor of representing it here this evening , as one of its Past Masters . His Lodcould not have joined the Grand Lodge except on the terms

ge offered , which he must be permitted to consider as honorable to both parties . Bro . Barnard followed to the same effect . He had listened with great pleasure to the explanation so satisfactorily given by Bro . Rid gway . He had the honor of being Warden of one of the new Lodges ; but ho could not forget that , in a Lodge whose warrant

dated back into the last century , he had first appreciated the beauties of the degree , fifteen years ago . Bro . Purdy was gratified to see the feeling which pervaded the G . Lodge exemplified by those who spoke and those who listened . He had the degree conferred upon him in 1823 , by the late well-known Mason , Bro . Aldis . Some years after , with the assistance of a talented Brother who had worked the Degree in India , he had done much to establish it under the old Kent warrant . Subsequently that Lodge

ceased to meet , but the genuineness of the warrant ' was forcibly proved to him some months ago by the exhibition of his own signature , which had been endorsed thereon at the period iie had first named . Bro . Jones , in thorough masonic spirit , reminded his Brethren of the emblem of the Lewis . Was it not the duty of the son to bear the burden and iieat of the day , whilst he did honor to his aged father ? Bro . Burreil , in reply , must confess that his sentiments were

considerably modified by the explanation of Bro . Ridgway : he nevertheless still considered it was a favor to comparative strangers at the expeuce of our own more immediate connections ; seeing however the unanimous feeling of the Brethren , he would withdraw his amendment . The Treasurer then read his report ; and entered into details of the financial position of the Grand Lodge , which were deemed eminently satisfactory . A report of the proceedings of the General Board was then brought

before Grand Lodge by the Grand Registrar , Bro . Ridgway ; who also read communications he had received from three independent Lodges , touching the steps to be taken for the purpose of all ying themselves with the Grand Lodge . Bro . Ridgway also , with , the permission of the Grand Lodge , read the draft of an agreement ; which it was proposed should be entered into , for effecting a union between the Lodges composing the Grand Lodge and a numerous and influential body of Brethren working the

degree under warrants which they had accepted from the Grand Chapter of Scotland . He mentioned the fact of his having , in his individual capacity , had the pleasure of ascertaining the sentiments of many Brethren holding high positions in these Lodges ; and lie could answer for the thorough masonic spirit , witli which these Brethren had frankly communicated with him on the subject of the Mark Degree . Upon the proposition of Bro . Barnard , seconded by Bro . Barker , of

Newcastle ; it was resolved that the terms of this draft be adopted as the basis , on which more specific arrangements might ultimately be agreed to in respect to the object in view . * The R . W . Grand Master , pro tern ., then proceeded to announce the following list of Brethren , as appointed by the Grand Master to the respective offices in Grand Lodge . Deputy G . Master—Bro . The Earl of Carnarvon ; S . G . W . —Bro . Beach , Deputy W . M . No . 7 ; J . G . W . —Bro . Hearne , P . M . of Albany and Minden Lodge ; Chaplains—Bros . Portal ] S . W . of Carnarvon

, Lodge , No . 7 , and Woollev , P . M . of the Phcenix Lodge , No . 2 ; G . Re ° \ —Bro . Ridgway , W . M . o ' f the Mark Lodge , No . 4 ; G . Sec—Bro . Collins , Secretary of the Bon Accord Lodge ; S . G . D . —Bro . Barnes W . M . of the Mallet and Chisel Lodge , No . 5 ; J . G . D . —Bro . Barringer , W . M . of the Keystone Lodge , No . 3 ; G . Sup . W . —Bro . Punshon , P . M . of the Northumberland and Berwick Lodge ; G . D . O . — Bro . Barnard , S . W . of the Mark Lodge , No . 4 ; Asst . G . D . C . —Bro . KiddellW . M . of the Adam LodgeNo . 0 ; G . S . B . —Bro . DavySWof

, , , .. the Fortescue Lodge , No . 9 ; G . O . —Bro . Lazarus , P . M . of the Royal Cumberland Lodge ; G . P . —Bro . Bremridge , P . M . of the St . George Lodge , No . 15 ; G . T . —Bro . Rice . Bro . Jones also announced , that the Grand Master was very desirous , in all cases where three Lodges should be established in connection with this G . Lodge in any county , to organize such Lodges into a province , and appoint over them a Grand Master , who should be known to him to be welcome to the Brethren he would have to

superintend . The Lord Methuen had done his Lordship the honor of promising his hearty co-operation , as P . G . Master for Wilts ; and the following Brethren " would also have their commissions issued in due form : For Kent—Bro . Purton Cooper , W . M . of the Leigh Lodge , No . 11 ; Devon—Bro . Huyshe , W . M . of the St . George Lodge , No . 15 ; Surrey , Bro . Cole , W . M . of the Hiram Lodge , No . 13 ; South Wales—Bro . Stanley Stanley , of the Mark Lodge , No . 4 ; South Australia—Bro . Dr . Kent ; China , Bro . Samuel Dawson . It was understood that Lord Leighin refraining from having the

, emblem of his office of Grand Master embroidered on his Grand Lodgeapron , had intended thus delicately to indicate to those who accepted office in the Grand Lodge , that , in his opinion , every position should , as an acknowledgment of services rendered to the Craft , be considered equally honorable . It is greatly to be hoped his Lordship ' s view will be generally adopted .