"Freemasonry Versus Christianity. "

Chun . !* , members of both Houses of Parliament , judges and members of the legal profession generally , officers of distinction in the military and naval services of the empire , graduates and undergraduates of our principal Universities , men who have

won position in the commercial and industrial worlds both at home and abroad , while the bulk of them are men of whom we speak familiarly as being in reputable circumstances . In short , our Society is composed for the most part of men of broad and

generous views , who would disdain to do anything detrimental to the Interests of the body politic or derogatory to the just influence of any of its members , male or female . They are for the most part actuated by kindly motives towards their

fellowmen , and they join the ranks of Freemasonry , not with the idea of advancing their material interests , but because they verily believe they will be able to do more good generally . As for the idea that men enrol themselves as Masons in order to win

election to municipal and other offices to which they could not otherwise hope to attain , the charge is entirely groundless . Men of every shade of politics , both imperial and municipal , are contained within our ranks . If any attempt were made to enlist

the support and sympathy of a Masonic body in behalf of this or that exponent of imperial or local politics , that body would speedily find itself in the position of the house that is divided against itself .

But we need not pursue this matter further . It is evident that Mr . FOSTER has little , if any , knowledge of Freemasonry , what small amount of information he has been able to glean being derived from unauthorised and untrustworthy sources .

We have , however , this consolation , that he belongs to that class of men who write dogmatically and bitterly against all who differ from them in opinion on any subject . Why , then , should

we exclaim against our receiving our fair share of that condemnation which we doubt not is liberally dispensed by Mr . FOSTER to all other sectarians .

United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

The following is the business to be transacted on Wednesday next , the 7 th inst . The minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the ist of June for confirmation . The GRAND MASTER in the Chair will move :

That this Grand Lodge respectfully offers to the Most Worshipful the Grand Master , his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , its most fraternal and heartfelt sympathy , in the suffering occasioned by his late unfortunate and serious accident , and desires to express its earnest hope that it may please the Great Architect of the Universe speedily to restore his Royal Highness to the full enjoyment of perfect health .

V . W . Bro . J OHN STRACHAN , Q . C , Grand Registrar , will report the steps taken by his Royal Highness in accordance with the request of Grand Lodge on the 29 th July , 1896 , " for the recognition of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand , and for the establishment of fraternal good feeling with our New Zealand brethren , " and will thereupon move : " That the Grand Lodge expresses its gratification at the happy result which has attended the labours

of the Grand Master in the settlement of the recognition of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand , and offers its dutiful and respectful thanks to the Most Worshipful Grand Master for the able and judicious manner in which his Royal Hig hness has brought this important matter to a successful termination . "

Report of the Board of Benevolence for the last quarter , in which are recommendations for the following grants : The widow of a brother of the Unity Lodge , No . 183 , London ... ' ... ... ... ... £ 75 o 0 The widow of a brother of the Barnato Lodge , No . 2265 ,

London ... ... ... ... ... too o o A brother of the Fowey Lodge , No . 977 , Fowey ... 50 o 0 A brother of the Farringdon Without Lodge , No . 1745 , London ... ... ... ... ... 50 0 o A brother of the Lodge of Peace , No . 149 , Meltham ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Southern Star Lodge ,

No . 1158 , London ... ... ... ... 60 o o A brother of the St . John's Lodge , No . 675 , Liverpool ... 50 o o A brother of the Excelsior Lodge , No . 1042 , Leeds ... 50 o o A brother of the Walpole Lodge , No . 1500 , Norwich ... 75 o o

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES . To the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England . The Boaid have to report that they have received a recommendation from the Officers' and Clerks' Committee that , having regard to the very creditable manner in which Bros . Leonard Cook , Charles Lawrence , and Ralph Grist were

discharging their duties as Clerk' in the Grand Secretary ' s ofiice , their salaries , which , in the case of Bro . Cook is at present £ 130 per annum , and in that of Bros . Lawrence and Grist is £ 100 per annum , be increased as from the 21 st June last by yearly increments of £ 10 , until they respectively reach . £ 150 per annum .

The Board , having considered ihe report , recommend that the salaries of Bros . Cook , Lawrence , and Grist be increased accordingly . The Board have to report , with deep regret , the death of Bro . A . A . Pendlebury , late Assistant Qrand Secretary , who died on the 30 th June last , after a long ,

United Grand Lodge.

lingering , and expensive illness , and although his pension has been paid up the time of his death , still the Board recommend that the sum of £ 100 , being equivalent to one quarter's pension , be paid to his widow . The Board have further to state that they have had under consideration a report of the Colonial Committee on the subject of an application from the

Wardens and other officers and members of the Hervey Lodge , No . 1788 , Trinidad , praying that the lodge , the greater number of members of which were in arrear in payment of their subscriptions , and some of whom had been proved guilty of un . Masonic conduct in lodge , should be erased ; and the Board , taking into consideration all the circumstances of the case , are of opinion that Grand Lodge should be recommended to erase the lodge .

The Board have further to report they have very fully considered a complaint preferred by the W . M . elect of the Stuart Lodge , No . 1632 , against the W . M . for having on the day named in the by-laws for the installation of his successor , and the appointment and investment of officers , appointed and invested the officers for the ensuing year , the minutes of the previous meeting relating to the election of Master not having been confirmed .

It appeared that in taking that course the W . M . acted strictly in accordance with a written opinion on the point given some years since by the late Grand Registrar , his Honour Judge Philbrick , Q . C . The Board , without arriving _ t a formal decision on the various points raised by the question , resolved nem con ., in accordance with the advice of the present Grand Registrar , that in the event of the election of Worshipful Master elect being confirmed , it would be competent for him on his installation to appoint his officers , notwithstanding the appointment of officers by his predecessor .

The Board have to report that the following presentations have been made to the library and museum since the last meeting of Grand Lodge , all of which have been accepted with thanks : TITLE OR OBJECT . BY WHOM PRESENTED . History of the Joppi Mark Lodge , No . 11 John Armstrong , P . P . G . W . Cheshire ( 2 copies ) ( The Author . ) A Masonic Handkerchief ... ... Rowland D . Longworth , P . M . No . iSrC

History of the Royal Clarence Lodge , No . 976 E . R . Hayter , P . M . and Sec . St . Paul's ( an Historical Poem ) ... ... Major T . C . Walls , P . G . Std . Br . ( The Author ) . Three Royal Medals ( in case ) ... ... George Kenning , P . P . G . D . Middx . Old Silver Masonic Medat ... ... Henry H . Boyle , Nos . 34 and 2224 . Volo , or the Will , and Ars Vivendi , 1 S 9 S ... Arthur Lovell , No . 1425 ( The Author ) . An Oration delivered at the Consecration of Rev . G . Herbert Frewer , P . P . G . Chap .

St . Ivo Lodge ... ... ... ( The Author ) . Old Masonic Medal ( copper gilt ) ... ... Bros . H . G . and Walter Spilling . Memorials of Lodge No . 91 , Leicester ... J . T . Thorp , P . P . G . W . ( The Author ) . South African Freemasonry ... ... O . H . jBate , P . M ., P . D . S . G . W . South Africa .

Western Australia , its History and Progress ... 1 The Aborigines of Western Australia ... | Souvenir of Western Australian Banquet ... ( Albert F . Calvert , W . M . No . 28 ( The The Exploration of Australia ( 1895 ) ... f Author ) . The Exploration of Australia ( 1844 to 18 9 6 ) ... My Fourth Tour in Western Australia ( 1 S 97 ) J

The Board also submit a statement of the Grand Lodge accounts presented to the last meeting of the Finance Committee , held on Friday , the 12 th day of August instant , showing a balance in the Bank of England ( Law Courts Branch ) , of „ 66 g 4 13 s . 8 d ., and in the hands of the Grand Secretary for petty cash , „ ioo , and for servants' wages , _ ioo . ( Signed ) R . LOVELAND LOVELAND , President . Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , 16 th August , 1898 .

NOTICE OF MOTION . By Bro . WILLIAM F ARQUHAR LAMONBY , F . M . No . 962 , P . P . G . W . Cumberland and Westmorland—RECOGNITION OF NEW GRAND LODGES IN BRITISH TERRITORIES" That in order to better insure the preservation of the rights and privileges of minorities , and to prevent subsequent disputes , Grand Lodge respectfully suggests and prays that the Most Worshipful the Grand

Master may be pleased to command that Lodge Warrants shall not be cancelled until the expiration of three calendar months from the date of receipt of such Warrants by the Grand Secretary . " List of lodges for which warrants have been granted by the M . W . G . M . since the last Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge : No . 2717 , Albert Lucking , Southend-on-Sea . 2718 , Fordsburg , Fordsburg , Transvaal .

2719 , Bnrberton , Barberton , Transvaal . 2720 , Loyal Commercial , Cardiff . 2 7 , Lodge of Light , London . 2 7 , Edward Terry , London . 2723 , Heaton , Newcastle-on-Tyne . 2724 , St . Lawrence , Northfield , Worcestershire . 2725 , Maristow , Yelverton , Devon . 2726 , Light on the Surma , Silchar , Bengal .

Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons.

GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS .

The following is the business to ba transacted on Tuesday next , the 6 th instant : Read and , it approved , confirm minutes ot Q uarterly Communication of 31 st May last . Report of the General Board .

A motion will be made that the report be taken as read . A motion will be made that the report be received and entered on the minutes . A motion will be proposed that the report be adopted . Presentation of Charity jewels to the Stewards of the last Benevolent Fund Festival .

Masonic Ceremony At Harrisburg, Pa. 1

MASONIC CEREMONY AT HARRISBURG , PA . 1

The ceremsny of laying the corner-stone of the new Capitol at Harrisburg , Pennsylvania , which is to be erected in place of thc building destroyed by fire on 2 nd February , i 8 ( j 7 , was performed with full Masonic honours on Wednesday , the ioth August . According to the Keystone , of Philadelp hia to which we are indebted for the following particulars : there was , in spi ' of the unfavourable weather , a large attendance , not only of the Craft , hut