The Appeals Of Bros. A. Vaillant And Others.

So , too , with a D . D . G . M ., it strikes us that one who holds so exalted a position , and who , in the absence of the District Grand Master , is the chief authority in the District , will not sacrifice any portion of his dignity if ho endeavours to acquaint himself , as far as possible , with the nature and

extent of the duties ho will bo called upon to perform , and the powers that will be vested in him . In short , whoever aspires to a position of dignity and responsibility , should bo prepared to fulfil his duties in a business-like , as well as in a dignified , way . Ho should know what to do , and have

tact enough to do it at the right time and in tho right manner . It in no wise derogates from a man ' s position that lie should know what he has to do , and Bro . Nichols , Past Master of Victoria in Burmah , and the Deputy District Grand Master of British Burmah , wonld havo come out of

theso differences with greater credit if they had shown some slight acquaintance with our Laws and Constitutions . As to the appellants , we do not think their appeal to the Deputy District Grand Master was couched in disrespectful language , but we do think there were several things

mentioned in their appeal which it would have been wiser and more expedient to have left unsaid . However , let us hope that the action of Grand Lodge will put an end to these bickerings , and that , henceforth , Lodge No . 832 of Rangoon will bo a model of harmony and exemplary work .

Grand Lodge

GRAND LODGE

THE United Grand Lodgo of England met in regular Quarterly Communication on Wednesday evening . The Earl of Carnarvon , Pro Grand Master , presided , and was supported by the Earl of Limerick , Prov . Grand Master , Bristol , as Deputy Grand Master , Lord Tenterden as Grand Senior Warden , tlie Eev . C . J . Martyn as Grand Junior Warden , llev . C . W . Arnold and Rev . H . A . Pickard—tlio latter of whom , in snecession to the lato Eev . Bro . Onslow , was

invested in tho course of tho proceedings—Grand Chaplains , S . Tomkins Grand Treasurer , John Hervey Grand Secretaiy , JE . Mclntyre Q . C . Grand Registrar , Sir Albert Woods , Garter , G . Director of Ceremonies , P . de Lando Long and Captain N . G . Philips Grand Senior Deacons , IT . C . Tombs Grand Junior Deacon , W . Toller G . Sword Bearer , E . G . Buss Assist . G . Secretary , S . Foxall G . Pursuivant , Earl of

Dononghmore , General Brownrigg , Prov . G . M . Surrey , John A . Enckcr President Colonial Board , and Bros . H . 0 . Levander , S . Bawson , Eov . R . J . Simpson P . G . Chaplain , Hyde Pullen , Fred . Binckes , John M . Clabon , Joshua Nunn , John Wordsworth , Stephen B . Wilson , J . Constable , H . M . Levy , Cook , No . 259 , John Havers , & c , & c , thoro

being over 500 brethren present . Grand Lodgo having been opened in ample form , and tho minutes of tho last Quarterl y Communication having been confirmed , the Earl of Carnarvon rose , and in a speech of great length brought under tho notice of Grand Lodgo tho recent act of the Grand Orient of Prance . Ho pointed out that this act involved an alteration in tho fundamental

principles by which not only French but likewise all other Freemasons wero bound together . Ho showed how the now Constitutions laid it down that tho essential principles of French Freemasonry wero not the existence of God and tho immortality of the soul , but freedom of conscience and the universal oneness of the human race ( la solidarite" humaine ) . This important change had

been adopted after long and caz-oful consideration , but ho ( tho noble lord ) was given to understand that no less than seventy-six Lodges had protested against it . Ho then referred to tho recent resolution passed by the Grand Lodge of Ireland in condemnation of tho act of tho French Grand Orient , and stated that other Grand Lodges abroad had adopted a similar courso of action . For his

part , while desirous of looking temperately at tho matter , it was impossible for him to adopt any other conclusion than that b y expunging from their Constitutions the belief in God and the immortality of the soul , the Grant Orient of France , had blotted out the necessary and fundamental principle of tho Craft , and had thus isolated itself from other Graud Lodges . His Lordship then wont on

to show at considerable length how these beliefs entered deeply into all the ceremonies and symbols of Freemasonry , and that , were it not so , they would be not only without force or moaning , but an offensive mockery ; and in concluding an ablo and effective speech , he proposed that a Committee should be appointed , for the purpose of inquiring into tho circumstances and examining ancient records : and ,

having dealt -with the matter calmly and patiently , that it should then report to Grand Lodge as to the courso it would bo advisable to take on the question . Tho Earl of Limerick seconded the motion , ¦ which was put and carried unanimously . Tho following eleven brethren constitute this Committee—namel y , the Earls of Carnarvon , Skelmersdale , and Dononghmore , Lords Leigh and TenterdenJE .

, Mclntyre , Q . C , tho Eev . C . J . Martyn , John Havers , H . C . Levander , Monckton , and Gould . Tho Grand Secretary then read a letter of condolence from tho Grand Lodge of New Brunswick , on the sudden death of tho Earl of Shrewsbury and Talbot , Provincial Grand Master of Staffordshire . W . Bro . Cook . Denntv MnsW

of tho Princo of Wales Lodge , No . 259 , then rose and nominated His Eoyal Highness the Prince cf Wales as M . W . Grand Master for the ensuing year , and the nomination having been duly seconded , was carried by acclamation . Bro . John M . Clabon was re-appointed ' President of the Lodge of Benevolence , and Bros . Joshua Nunn and Jas . Brett were re-elected aa Senior and Junior Vice-Presidents of the same .

Grand Lodge

Tho following twelve Past Masters wero then elected , after ballot , tc servo on tho Lodgo of Benevolence for tho ensuing year , namely : — Bro . John Constable P . M . 185 , 331 votes . Bro . IT . 0 . Levander P . M . 2 G 3 , 325 votes . Bro . C . F . Hogard P . M . 205 , 293 votes . Bro . William Mann P . M . 18 fi , 2 S 7 votes .

Bro . IT . Dicketts P . M . 25 , 2 (» 9 votes . Bro . It . Bartlctfc P . M . 147 , 215 votes . Bvo . Griffiths Smith P . M . 21 , 210 votes . Bro . H . Garrod P . M . 749 , 231 votes . Bro . Obed . Roberts P . M . 188 , 225 votes . Bro . 0 . Atkins P . M . 27 . 208 votes .

Bro . C . P . Cobham P . M . 957 , 207 votes . Bro . H . M . Lovy P . M . 188 , 202 votes . Tho Eeport of tho Lodgo of Benevolence for tho past quarter , in which the grants enumerated in our last issue wero recommended , was submitted and approved . The statement of account , as described last week , was also submitted and accepted . Tho appeal of Bro .

John Henry Henry , of St . John s Lodge , i \ o . 1039 , Lichfield , against a judgment of tho lato Prov . GM . of Staffordshire , for deciding a caso and censuring Bro . Henry without healing him , was sustained , and tho judgment reversed ; as also was tho appeal of Alfred Leander Yaillant and other brethren , of tho Lodgo Victoria in Bunnell , against tho judgment of tho Dep . District Grand Master of British

Burmah , and against their exclusion irom the Lodge , to which wa refer at somo length in another part of our columns . The Eev . Bro . E . J . Simpson then rose for tho purpose of moving tho series of resolutions on tho German question of which ho had given notice . Tho first of them , to tho effect that tho three hundred petitions now presented to Grand Lodgo should bo received , was

agreed to ; but after somo discussion on tho second and third , in tho former of "which it was proposed that onr Grand Lodgo should suggest to the Grand Lodgo of tho Throo Globes , Berlin , a reconsideration of that portion of its constitutions which required all candidates for initiation to declare themselves believers iu Christianity ,

and in tho latter thafc tho M . W . G . Master should be respectfully requested to communicate tho foregoing resolutions to tho Grand Lodgo of the Three Globes , in such manner as might commend itself to His Eoyal Highness—theso were withdrawn . Shortly after this , Grand Lodge was closed with tho customary formalities , and the brethren dispersed rapidly .

1 We learn from tho Masonic Becord of Western India , that the Quarterly Communication of the District Grand Lodge of Bengal was held on the 25 th June , at the Freemasons ' Hall , Calcutta , Bro . the Hon . J . Pitt Kennedy , P . Dep . Dist . G . M . presiding as Dist . G . Master . Many present

and Past Dist . G . Officers , with the representatives of twelve Lodges and sundry visitors , were present . The Dist . G . M . having adctaessed the brethren , the Report of the Committee of General Purposes was taken as read . The Dist . G . Treasurer ' s accounts showed a balance against the

General Fund of over 50 GRs ; in favour of the Hall Fund of over 2 , 354 Rs . ; in favour of the Gas Account of over 107 Rs . of Musical Fund Account of upwards of 433 Rs . ; and of the Fund of Benevolence of over 1 , 933 Rs . This Report , as well as that of the Committee of the Fund of

Benevolence , which showed donations to tho extent of 390 Rs ., was adopted . A resolution referring to the final scrutiny of the votes of Lodges in respect of a Kew District Grand Master having been proposed and carried , and the

annual collection in behalf of the Fund of Benevolence , which realised Rs . 107 . 4 , having been made and handed to the District G . Treasurer , Distict Grand Lodge was closed with the customary formalities .

It will be within the recollection of our readers that on the 23 rd April last , Lord Leigh , Prov . G . M . of Warwickshire , laid the first stono of the Shakespeare Memorial now being erected at Stratford-on-Avon , at least one portion of it , to wit , tho Theatre . But it is in

contemplation to build a Library and Picture Gallery , for which a further sum of £ 3 , 000 is required . Mr . 0 . E . Flower , who has already contributed munificently towards the erection of the Theatre , has again come forward and promised £ 4 , 000 towards the Library and Gallery , on condition that tho

further sum of # 4 , 000 is raised by the end of the year . Mr . Henry Graves , the Art Publisher of Pall Mall , has further promised to bequeath all his pictures of a Shakespearian character to the Gallery . Under these

circumstances , the Corporation is now making a powerful appeal to the British public , in order to raise tho £ 4 , 000 . Wo trust their endeavours will meet with the prompt and hearty support it deserves .

The first annnal hall of the City of Westminster Lodge , No . 15 G 3 , will be held at Willis ' s Rooms , King-street , St . James ' s , on Wednesday , 28 rd January 1878 , Bvo . E .

White W . M . is President , and Rev . P . M . Holclen I . P . M . Vice-President . Bro . E . J . Scott , Secretary and Treasurer of Ball Committee , 34 Bury-street , St . James ' s , S . W ., will be happy to furnish particulars .