United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

THE regular Quarterly Communication of United Grand Lodsre was held on Wednesday , 3 rd instant , at Freemasons' Hall , London . In the absence of tho Most Worshipful the Grand Master , the throne was occupied by General Brownrigg , C . B ., Prov . Grand Master for Surrey .

He was supported by the District Grand Master of Natal as Deputy G . Master , Rev . R . J . Simpson P . G . C . as Senioi Warden , " Rev . 0 . J . Martyn P . G . Chap .. Deputy Prov . Grand Master Suffolk , as Junior Warden , Rev . J . Robbins ,

D . D ., G . Cbap ., Horace B . Marshall Grand Treasurer , T . Fenn President Board General Purposes , Col Shadwell H . Clerke Grand Secretary , Dr . Ernest Wendt Grand Secretary German Correspondence , Baron de Ferrieres

S . G . D ., T . Davison S . G . D ., J . S . Eastes J . G . D ., Sir

Albert W . Woods G . D . of C , A . Richards Deputy G . D . of C , E . Locock G . S . B ., Lt .-Col . S . E . Taylor G . Std . B ., J . H . Matthews G . Std . B ., E . M . Lott G . Org ., H . G . Buss Assist . G . Sec , W . Stephens G . Pnrs ., H . Garrod Assist . G . Purs ., and the followincr among other Past

Grand Officers : —Revs . A . W . Hall , C . W . S . Stanhope , Sir W . Hayes , C . W . Arnold and W . K . R . Bedford Chaplains , Bros . Col . H . S . Somerville Barney , J . M . Case , R . Grey , H . G . Sandeman , C . W . C . Hntton , C . A . Murton , Ralph Gooding , H . Maudsley , and R . W . Wheeler

Deacons , Magnus Ohren and Raymond H . Thrupp A . D . of C , J . Nunn and Col . J . Peters Sword Bearers , Edgar Bowyer Standard Bearer , J . Brett , C . A . Cottebrune , Thomas Cubitt , and L . F . Littell Purs . General Brownrigg , before the commencement of the business , referred to

the great loss the Craft had sustained by tho death of Bro . Jobn Havers , Past Grand Warden , who had for many years been indefatigable in his exertions to promote the welfare of the Craft . Later on a motion was made by the Rev . C . J . Martyn , Past Grand Chaplain , expressive of

the regret of Grand Lodge at the event , and condoling with the deceased , brother ' s family , which mo . tion , seconded by the Rev . R . J . Simpson , was agreed to . In the meantime the Grand Secretary read the minutes of the last Quarterly Communication , explaining

that as one brother to whom a grant of £ 150 was then made bad died since his receipt of the £ 50 usually paid on account , the minutes would not have to be confirmed in respect of the balance , and with this exception they were confimred . The Report of the

Board of Benevolence , recommending grants as given in our last issue , was then read and agreed to , after wbich the Report of the Board of General Purposes was ordered to be endorsed on the minutes . Bro . Thomas Fenn P . B . G . P . then moved tbe proposition standing in his

name , " That a donation of fifty guineas be made to the fund being raised for the restoration of the Churcb of St . Giles's in the Fields . " Brother Fenn said that this

church , in which parish the premises of Grand Lodge were situated , entirely depended on voluntary contributions for its repairs , there being no fund applicable for that end . It had been the custom on former occasions to

vote small sums for this purpose , but a larger sum being now required , and many of the parishoners having subscribed £ 50 and £ 100 , it had been the unanimous opinion of tbe Board of General Purposes that Grand Lodge should be recommended to add fifty guineas to tbe list . They

thought such a donation would be a fitting sequel to the protest which was unanimously agreed to at Grand Lodge last Quarterly Communication against the unfounded charges wbicb had recently been brought against the Craft . Brother James Stevens seconded the motion , and said the

whole matter had been thoroughly discussed , and many more excellent reasons than tbe worthy President had stated were adduced in favour of the proposition . Bro . C . W . C . Hutton said he very seldom , as a Churchman , much less as a Mason , intruded himself upon Grand Lodge , but he

thought it was tho duty of Masonry to uphold that very high position which had made it the distinguishing feature and bond of friendship in the world . He thought that it was the bounden duty of Masonry to hold itself free from any sectarianism . He was a Churchman himself , and he

should feel pleasure as a member of the body to subscribe his quota individually , but not as a member of Grand Lodge , to any fund that might be required for the restoration of the Church of St . Gilcs ' s-in-the-Fields ; but he took a very strong stand and a very strong position upon that which Mason'y had achieved in tho world , s' \ d which

United Grand Lodge.

he hoped it would ever maintain in the world , and that was an utter unsectarian position . They might be called upon to-morrow to subscribe for tho repairs of this , that , or the other place of worship , no raattor what , and he thought it was their duty as Masons to hold themselves

aloof , and to recollect that grand characteristic of their Order , a universal system of morality which had pervaded the whole of humanity . If they connected themselves in any way , and Grand Lodge in any way connected itself with sectarianism , he thought Masonry would lose its

position and ctmractor very much . He should not bring forward any motion in opposition , but he stood up there as an Englishman , and as a member of Grand Lodge , and as a Churchman , to say that he should feel it his duty to oppose the vote . Col . Somerville Burney said one of the

principles of Freemasonry was obedience to tbe laws of the land . The law divided the land into parishes . Grand Lodge was situated in tho parish of St . Giles-inthe-Fields , and as a parishoner it was asked to support the fabric of the parish church . Brother the

Rev . R . J . Simpson opposed the vote . If they subscribed in this case they would not only probably do an act which might mislead Masons into the idea that they

had taken np what was commonly called a sectarian ground , but they would be bound in honour to support any works , whatever they might be . It would be better for them to subscribe as individuals . Brother the Rev .

C . J . Martyn supported the vote . He agreed that Masonry ought to hold itself aloof from denominationalism . They wore not asked to give as Masons , but as landlords . It was a recognised rule that the owners of property in

various parishes were asked to contribute to any good work , whether Dissenters or Church people . Brother Fenn having replied , a division was taken , when the proposition was declared lost , the votes being 110 to 92 . Bro . C . F . Hogard P . M . 205

moved—To add to paragraph 19 of the Book of Constitutions—Election of Grand Treasurer—the following words : — " In the same manner as the eleoted members of the Board of General Purposes . " He explained that the nomination of Grand Treasurer

would take place at the December Quarterly Communication , and the election in March , -when the names of tbe different candidates would be printed on the balloting papers and the voting would be scrutinised . In this way time would be saved and confusion avoided . Brother

Controller S . G . Bake seconded the motion . A Brother objected . Grand Lodge would be deprived of one of its privileges if this motion was carried . Instead of the members of Grand Lodge having the election of a Grand Treasurer , the election would be in the hands of the Board

of General Purposes . Another Brother explained that the last brother entirely misapprehended the purport of the motion . It was only to simplify the method of election , which would still be by Grand Lodge . The Board of General Purposes would have nothing to do with it . Bro .

Hogard said if his motion was carried , paragraph 19 of the Book of Constitutions would read , " The Grand Treasurer shall be nominated at the Grand Lodge in December , and be elected at the Grand Lodge in March , in the same manner as the elected members of the Board of General

Purposes . " The confusion at the election last March was so great that the Deputy Grand Master had to deviate from the Book of Constitutions , as it was found impossible to tell with exactitude the number who voted . The motion was put and carried , and Grand Lodge was closed in form .

The members of the Percy Lodge of Instruction will resume their meetings at Bro . Langdale ' s , the Jolly Farmers , Southgate Road , Kingsland , on Saturday evening ,

6 th of September . We learn that the Masonic Association in connection with this Lodge of Instruction has had ten ballots in as many months , thus benefitting the Insti tutions to the tune of one hundred guineas .

The North London Chapter of Improvement held its weekly meeting at the Alwyne Castle Tavern , St . Paul sroad , Canonbury , on Thursday . Comps . Edmonds M . E . Z ., Radcliffe H ., George J ., G . W . Knight S . N ., Shaw P . &

The ceremony was rehearsed in an able and masterly mantier . Comp . Captain Nicols has kindly consented to work the sections of the ll . A . degre on Thursday , 11 th Sep tember , at eitrbt o ' clock .