The Proposed New Grand' Officers.

THE PROPOSED NEW GRAND ' OFFICERS .

fTlHE view we adopted last week as to the creation X of a Grand Chancellor for the United Grand Lodge of England coincided with the opinion of many of those present at the Quarterly Communication and Wednesday , and found expression in a proposed

amendment to tne suggestion 01 tne Grand Master which ultimately led to the rejection of the project , so far as the Grand Chancellorship was concerned , and the withdrawal of the other parts of the extension scheme . The keynote of the opposition was sounded

by Bro . G . P . Britten , who objected to the proposed new Officer ranking before the Grand Chaplains . The suggestion that he should do so was not useful ; it might be mischievous ; and he thought it was degrading the office of Grand Chaplain . He said that some years ago an attempt was made to degrade the position of Grand Chaplain , but the Grand Master

then put his foot down on it . He moved as an amendment that the Grand Chancellor should rank next below the Grand Chaplain , which amendment was seconded , but ultimately negatived . The original motion was then put , upon which Bro .

Eichard Eve P . G . T . expressed the desire of the Craft to know whether a Grand Chancellor was wanted , with the duties of Grand Registrar , as well as a Grand Registrar with , virtually , no duties at all . He made a very bold stand , urging that although it was stated that the proposition was made at the recommendation of the Grand Master , it came really from the Board of General Purposes , and he was of opinion—as many others were—that the President of the Board should

have stated some reason for converting the Grand Registrar into a Grand Chancellor . Brother Eve appeared to be of the samo opinion as ourselves , regretting the abolition of tho time honoured title of Registrar for no apparent object whatever ; and when he proposed , as an amendment , to leave out all reference to the Grand Chancellorship , remarking there was really no reason for the chanse , it was

evident he had the feeling of Grand Lodge with him . The amendment was duly seconded . Bro . Fenn , as proposer of the original motion , explained it was not desired to swallow up the Grand Registrar , who would be a Deputy to the Grand Chancellor , and do

whatever duties he would be called upon to perform . He very unwisely urged that it was thought the proposition , coming from the Grand Master , would he accepted—unwise , because it was most dangerous to start the idea that anything submitted from the head of the Order must of necessity find favour with

the Craft , more especially as Bro . Eve had boldly stated , a few moments before , that the suggestion was reall y the proposal of the Board of General Purposes , lathered by the Grand Master . The Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , as Grand Master in the chair , attempted to throw oil upon the troubled

The Proposed New Grand' Officers.

waters , urging it was no laughing matter when it wajS suggested to divide the duties of the Grand Registrar , but we respectfully point out that no such proposition was made . The Craft was asked to create a new office , and no mention was made of that of Registrar , which must have died a natural death , unless further amendments to the Constitutions were to be Dronosed .

in order to find work for the office . However , the proposal was so objectional to the Craft that the amendment of Bro . Eve was carried , and the whole scheme in regard to the Grand Chancellor fell through , upon which Bro . Fenn said he was unable to proceed with the other parts of the proposal and he

asked leave to withdraw the whole of the motions . He did not think it respectful to the Grand Master to make an amendment to his recommendation , which should have been either accepted or rejected ; but we venture to think the Prince of Wales will not thank his champion for this expression of opinion . The Grand Master would rather commend the opposition

for having the courage of their opinion than blindly follow their leader , even against their wish or inclination . Ultimately the matter was referred back , and we have probably heard the last of Grand Officer extension for the present , although we are of opinion that some other scheme might prove acceptable to the Craft , and equally answer the intended purpose .

How Masonry Is Eternal.

HOW MASONRY IS ETERNAL .

There is Philosophy in the origin and Purposes of Masonry . An oration before the Grand Lodge oj Freemasons in Kansas , 18 th February 1892 , by Bro . Bestor G . Brown .

MASONRY is coeval with thought . Masonry is not a mere ritual ; it is a system of philosophy . Philosophy is thought . The ritualistic forms and ceremonies we know are the symbolic expression of that philosophio thought . We do not find the life of the violet

in the sweet fragrance it exhales ; the life germ lies beneath all that . A man may fall dead in the street , and we find no member of his body missing . Bach organ in its wonted place , yet ceased in its functions . The vital

forceimperishable , eternal—has fled ; the body was bnt its tenement . So our organization is but the habitation where abides an imperishable force , that gives life and being , and which is the philosophic conception of that eternal truth which has been since time began . When the Great Architect of the Universe out of chaos

created order ; when in the starry firmament he set the glittering seal of His almighty hand ; when all the forces of Nature , at His omnipotent fiat , sprang into existence , He had not yet begun his work . But when , to fulfil His wiso

purposes , like unto himself , created He man ; then , verily , was his great labour bsgun , but to be finished only when time shall be no more . So came forth man , out of the thought of God—the manifest expression of the thought of God ; yet came he not forth like unto the beast , to roam