United Grand Lodge.

purporting to be signed by the Worshipful Master , Wardens and a majority of the members present ; but which was signed by very considerably loss than a majority , and by some brethren who were not members of the Lodge or present on tho occasion .

The Board considering such a breach of tho law highly reprehensible as tending to mislead tho Board of Benevolence , severely reprimanded the Worshipful Master , Wardens , and the other members who had signed tho recommendation , and warned them to be more cautions in future .

They have further to report that from the returns mado by the Fidelity Lodge , No . 430 , Ashton-under-Lyne , it appeared that two brethren who had been initiated ou the 20 feh January 1892 , had been passed on 15 th February following , two days short of the interval of

28 days required by Article 195 of the Constitutions . The Board ordered that the brethren thus irregularly advanced be re-obligated in tho second and third degrees before a certificate can be granted , and tbat the Lodge be cautioned to observe strictly the law in futnre .

It having come to the knowledge of the Board that the members of the St . Ambrose Lodge , No . 1891 , had appeared in Masonio clothing at a banquet of their Lodge where ladies and non-Masons wore present , without previously obtaining a dispensation , and had moreover in such presence given the usual toasts in Masonio form , the "Worshipful Master , Wardens , and Brethren were summoned to

attend the Board and produce the warrant and books of the Lodge . The Worshipful Master having admitted the facts and promised that the offence should not be repeated , the Board , although considering that such proceedings were not only contrary to the written law but also a serious breach of No . 4 of the Ancient Charges , after some discussion resolved on a more lenient penalty than the case seemed to deserve , they therefore severely reprimanded the Lodge

and warned them to be more cautious in future . • Although no similar case has been brought under the formal notice of the Board tbey regret to say that one of the Officers of the St . Ambrose Lodge alleged in justification of their proceedings that the custom obtained in other Lodges . They have therefore entered on their minutes a recommendation to their successors to treat any such cases as may be brought before them in future with greater severity .

The Board have also adjudicated upon the following complaints : — By a mombor of the Ivy Lodge , No . 1441 , against the Worshipful Master for permitting the Lodge to vote , at a Lodge of Emergency , a jewel to the late Worshipful Master without notice having been expressed in the summons , contrary to Article 166 of the Book of Constitutions , and for having , notwithstanding his protest , put for confirmation the minute of this irregulor vote at the next regular

meeting . It also appeared on examination of the minutes that a candidate for initiation was proposed and seconded at this samo Lodge of Emergency , contrary to Article 184 , and that he was balloted for , elected , and initiated at the next regular meeting . The Board ordered that the Brother thus irregularly initiated should be re-obligated at tho next regular meeting , or at a Lodge of Emergency called for that purpose under the provisions of Article 185 .

17 joining member ? , none of whom have been previously proposed and seconded at a regular Lodge . The Board ordered tbat these brethren should be proposed and seconded at the next regular Lodge and ballotted for at tho regalar

For these irregularities tho AVorshipful Master was admonished to be more careful iu tho discharge of his Masonio duties for the future . Against tbo William Shurmnr Lodge , No . 2374 , Chingford , for having on tho 19 th May 1892 , in violation of Article 189 , elected

Lodge following . For this breach of tho law tho Lodge was fined £ 3 3 s , severely reprimanded , and cautioned to ba moro careful of the strict observance of the laws in future .

A Sub-Committee appointed by the Board in June last year to inquire into the -work of tho Grand Secretary ' s office have held numerous meetings during tho year , and have been cordially assisted in their inquiries by the Graud Secretary and hia staff . Thoy have made many valuable suggestions which the Board have approved and ordered to be adopted .

Arising out of their report the Board have to offer the following recommendations for adoption by Grand Lodge . 1 . That all appointments in tho Grand Secretary ' s office should in future be by recommendation of the Grand Secretary

to the Board of General Purposes , and snbject to their approval , and that promotion shonld not necessarily go by seniority , bnt on the occasion of a vacancy tho appointment shonld be mado by fitness for tho particular office vacated .

2 . That tho banking account hitherto kept at the Western Branch of tho Bank of England in Burlington Gardens be transferred to the Law Courts Branch , Temple Bar . 3 . That the Grand Secretary shall have a olerk capable of taking

down letters and other matters in shorthand , and that Bro . A . H . Leo ( son of Bro . Loo , one of tho clerks in the ollice ) who has served some months on probation , be permanently engaged as such clerk at a salary of £ 120 per ¦ annum , dating from Christmas 1892 .

4 . That Bro . James Hedg ing , who was engaged as a temporary clork in 1887 at two guineas a week , be now placed on the staff , and that his salary be £ 150 per annum dating from

Christmas 1892 . 5 . Tho work of tho Grand Secretary's office having materiall y increased it is recommended that an additional clerk bo engaged at a aulary of £ 100 pur annum .

The Board have ordered tbat in future the Report of each Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge be sent out as nearly as possible within 14 days after tho meeting . Tho following presentations have been made to the library and museum since the 31 st December 1892 , all of which have been accepted with thanks : —

TITLE OR OBJECT . PRESENTED BY . Catalogue of the Masonio Library of ~ \ Gen . S . C . Lawrence , of Boston ' _ „ _ Facsimile of the Westminster Journal , C anions .

No . 24 , 1742 J History of Freemasonry in Quebec T . G . L . of Quebec . Vol . 4 of Quatuor Coronati Reprints ") m , T , „_ , „ Facsimiles of the Grand Lodge Ancient t J *?* Qaafcnor Cor ° - Constitutions ) naw "

History of the Warrant of the Humber M . C . Peck P . G . S . B . Lodge Masonio Ornament ( Sunderland Ware ) Hy . Sutherland , M . D ., P . G . Steward . Sundry Books and Manuscripts of the Mrs . Wendt . late Dr . Wendt

History of St . George ' s Chapter , No . 140 The Anthor , Bro . G . W . Taylor . Constitutions of Freemasonry , 1756 E . Letchworth G . S . Memorial of Star Chapter , No . 1257 C . N . MoIntyreNorthM . E . Z . ( Installation 1893 )

Proceedings of the Grand Commandery" ) of K . T . Illinois , 1892 I Gen . J . C . Smith P . G . M . Illi . Keports of the Masonio Veterans Asso- C nois . oiation of Illinois , 1887-92 ) Engraved List of Lodges , 1757 ) W . Orde-Powlett P . G . W . Three Old Masonio Prints j D . P . G . M . N . & . E . Yorks .

Statuette of a Freemason ( Berlin Ware ) Abridged Translations of Picart ' s Cere- / monies , & c . V S . Valentine P . G . P . Moses and Aaron ; Civil and Ecclesi- \ astical Eites , & o . 1662 '

Masonio Jug and Punch Bowl ( Leeds" ) Masonio Token , Silver-gilt , Mounted { J D # BeIa Adam - on Swivel )

The Lodge Prudence Directory ( Leeds ) Tudor Trevor P . M ., Ac . ( Compiler ) . Histpry of Lodge Dumfries , Kilwinning *) Mannual of the Ancient York Rite , f _ . , „ , nn-n p j ' r W . J . Hughan P . G . D . Sundry Provincial Masonio Calendars )

Six Volumes of the Works of Emanuel The Committee of the Swedenborg Swedenborg Society . Curious Old Bronzo Masonic Medal L . W . Harvey P . M . No . 9 . Three Small Tracing Boards in Frame A . J . Searcey S . W . No . 1351 . Burmese MS ., part of the Buddhist Lieut .-Col . A . B . Cook Past

Scriptures ( written on loaves of the A . G . D . C . Borassus Flabelliformis ) Printed Report of the Grand Lodge of E . 0 . Mulvey P . M ., & o . Ireland , 1821-22 Freemasons' Magazine 1841 , Nos , 2 , 3 , 4 ""*)

( No . 1 wanted ) f Horatio Ward Dep . Grand Ahiman Rezon , 1756 , with Book Plate f Sword Bearer . of Laurence Dermott ( the Author ) ) History of the Huddersfield Lodge , The Huddersfield Lodge , No . 209 , by Bro . W . L . Wilmhnrst . No . 290 .

Centennial of the Harmony Lodge , W . H . Whittey W . M . of No . 52 , Pennsylvania No . 52 . Catalogue of the Masonic Library of G . G . W . Bain P . M ., & c . ( Com-W . Bain piler ) . Sundry Old Certificates Rev . J . S . Brownrigg P . G . Chaplain .

First Twenty-five years of Froomasonry G . Russell P . D . G . S . W ., & o ., in Natal , & c . ( The Author ) . Provincial Grand Deacon ' s Jewel 1816 Bros . Spilling . ( Silver-Gilt ) Two old Masonio Aprons *) R . Loveland Loveland Sundry Books and Old Certificates j P . G . D .

Tho Board recommend that tho following alterations be made in the Book of Constitutions , consequent on resolutions of Grand Lodge passed December 1892 , and confirmed March 1893 : — Rule 6 . —Below the words " Past Grand Registrar " ( 16 ) insert

words " Deputy Grand Registrar , " and balow " Depnty Grand Register " the words " Past Deputy Grand Registrars . " Below words " Past Grand Sword Bearers " ( 32 ) insert words " Deputy Grand Sword Bearer , " and below that "Past Deputy Grand Sword Bearers . "

Rule 18 . —Bolow the words " Grand Registrar" insert words " Deputy Grand Registrar , " and substitute for tho words " Four-Grand Deacons" the words " Six Grand Deacons . " Before the words " Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies" insert tho word "Three , " and add " s" to word "Director . " Bolow words " Graud Sword Bearer " insert " Deputy Grand Sword Bearer . "

Rule 88 . —That the following words be added—That in Provinces and Districts numbering 40 Lodges and upwards the Provincial or District Grand Masters shall be empowered to appoint annually "Four Provincial or District Grand Deacons , " a " Provincial or District Deputy Grand Director of

Ceremonies ' aud " Three Provincial or District Assistant Graud Director of Ceremonies . " In Provinces and Districts numbering 70 Lodges ancl upwards tho Provincial or District Grand Musters shall be empowered to