United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

" That this Grand Lodge offers to the Most Worahipfal Brother His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince of Germany , Protector of Freemasonry in that conntry , its most fraternal and heartfelt sympathy in the affliction nnder whioh he is Buffering , and begs to express its earnest hope that it may please the Great Architect of the Universe to restore His Imperial Highness again to health . "

Few words were needed , he considered , to recommend this motion . He believed there was not a single person in the country who did not watch , with , the deepest anxiety , the reports which were published from time to time in reference to the condition of the German Crown Prince . The reason for this was that he was known to be one of the most honest and upright men of his day ; a man who had made himself beloved bv all : an examnle as a son . a hnshfi . nrl . - - - --- — — j

_ „ _ _ j . r a warrior , and a statesman . The brethren knew how the destinies of Europe were hanging on this one man ' s life , and they also knew how closely allied he W § B to their own beloved Eoyal Family . His wife ,

the Princess Eoyal of England , had followed in the footsteps of her mother , and had shown what a watchful , untiring nurse she was during his long period of trial and suffering . Earl Lathom felt he was saying what all would say—that she and all her family had their deepest sympathy . Bro . Beach seconded the proposition , feeling assured it would be cnrried with

rpHE Quarterly Communication of the United - * - Grand Lodge of England was held on Wednesday , at Freemasons' Hall , London , under the presidency of the Deputy Grand Master , the Rt . Hon . the Earl of Lathom , who was supported by Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master

Hampshire and Isle of Wight , as Deputy Grand Master ; T . W . Tew Provincial Grand Master West Yorkshire as Past G . M ., together with nearly one thousand members of the Order . Bro . the Hon . W . T . Orde-Powlett P . G . W . filled the chair of Senior , and Bro . Sir Gabriel Goldney , Bart ., P . G . W . that of Junior Grand Warden . Grand Lodge having been regularly

opened , the business of the day—of which we gave particulars in our last issue—was proceeded with . The minutes having been confirmed , the Grand Secretary , Colonel Shadwell H . Gierke , reported , for the information of Grand Lodge , the manner in which the Grand Master had distributed the £ 500 placed in his hands , by the vote of Grand Lodge , for the relief of the unemployed of the metropolis . This information we have already published in our columns .

He also reported that the £ 500 voted as a present to Her Eoyal Highness the Princess of Wales , on the celebration of her Silver Wedding , had been expended in the purchase of a diamond ornament , that being the form which Her Eoyal Highness had desired the gift to take , as ascertained by the Deputy Grand Master the Earl of Lathom . That Brother then rose to propose the resolution standing in his name :

United Grand Lodge.

unanimity , both on private and public grounds ; the private one from the relationship the Crown Prince bore to the Sovereign of our country , and the public one from the important position he occupied among potentates of the world . As the acting Grand Master

nacl said , on tne hie ol tne urown rrmce nung tne destinies of Europe , because he was well known to incline to that love of peace which must tend so much to the benefit of the civilised world . They could , then , but hope that the Great Architect of the Universe might be graciously pleased to spare his life . The proposition was carried unanimously , deep

sympathy being expressed by the assembled company . Bro . Gabriel Prior Goldney then proposed the re-election of H . E . H . the Prince of Wales as Most Worshipful Grand Master for the ensuing year . The nomination was seconded by Bro . John Smith , and unanimously approved of by Grand Lodge . The election of Grand Treasurer was next proceeded with , the two brethren nominated for the office being

Bros . Asher Barheld P . M . 511 , and Stephen Barton Wilson P . M . 59 . The ballot resulted , in the return of Bro . Barfield , by a majority of about four votes to one , out of 800 recorded . The grants recommended by the Board of Benevolence were confirmed , while the Eeports of the Board of General Purposes and of the Auditor of Grand Lodge Accounts were adopted .

The appeals before Grand Lodge were next dealt with , that of Bro . William Henry Messenger P . M . 1048 being allowed , on the ground that the offence of which he was guilty was outside the cognizance of Freemasonry ; while the others , presented by Bros . John C . Cobbe P . M . 465 , and H . A . Michael of No . 2071 , were dismissed . This concluded the business , and Grand Lodge was closed .

Merit.

MERIT .

" Popular glory is a perfect coquette ; her lovers must toil , feel every inquietude , indulge every caprice , and perhaps at last be jilted into the bargain . True glory , on the other hand , resembles a

woman of sense ; her admirers must play no tricks ; they feel no great anxiety , for they are sure in the end of being rewarded in proportion to their merit . "

THE present is not the first occasion on which we have addressed onr readers on the question of merit in Freemasonry , and inasmuch as it is a subject on which there is a very wide diversity of opinion , it is one which may profitably be considered at any time , or under any

particular circumstances which the events of the day may bring prominently to the fore . We are aware our opinions on this subject do not coincide with those of many members of the Craft , bufc that is hardly to be expected in

regard to any matter , even in Freemasonry , for notwithstanding its universality we question if there is any subject on which the Craft is of one mind , or on which all

its members can agree . Indeed , we do not consider thafc unanimity would be of any real advantage to tin . Order , even if it were possible ; rather , it miVhr , becojn .- di trinioiita ! to the \ e » . interests «••ih ,. (>» . (' , f .. r wflio . r ,