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by which decree the Volume of the Sacred Law was removed from the altars and from the rituals of lodges under its jurisdiction . 2 nd . That this Grand Lodge welcomes the return of the Grand Lodge of Peru to its place among those Supreme Masonic Bodies , which acknowledge a belief in the Great Architect of the Universe , and the presence in lodges of the Volume of flis Sacred Law , as essential landmarks of the Craft .

3 rd . That so long as the Grand Lodge of Peru , and the lodges holding thereunder , respect those ancient landmarks , and practise pure Masonry , they are entitled to recognition by English Masons as true and lawful Masonic lodges or bodies . 4 th . That a copy of the foregoing resolutions be transmitted to the Grand Lodge of Peru , to the Grand Lodges of Scotland and Ireland , to

each Giand Lodge with which this Grand Lodge is in communication , and to the Worshipful Masters of all lodges holding under the Grand Lodge of England , each of whom is hereby instructed to cause these resolutions to be read at the first meeting of his lodge after the receipt thereof , and to direct that they shall be entered on the minutes .

The Earl of AMHERST then formerly moved the resolution the brethren had just heard read , and the Earl of WARWICK seconded it . The resolution was then put and carried . Bro . LETCHWORTH read the following letter he had received from the Earl of Lathom : " 43 , Seymour-street , W ., Jan . 26 , 1899 . Dear Bro . Letchworth , may I ask you to convey to the Grand Lodge on behalf of my family as well as myself our most grateful thanks for the touching and

sympathetic resolution passed at the recent meeting expressing their ( Jeep sympathy with us in our great sorrow . I am , dear Bro . Letchworth , yours fraternally , Lathom . " The Grand Secretary said he had also rece ived letters of condolence with the Grand Lodge on the loss of the late Pro Grand Master from the Grand Lodge of Ireland , the Grand Lodge of Egypt , and the Grand Lodge of Liberia . Bro . Earl AMHERST said the next business was the election of their Most Worshipful Grand Master , and he called on Bro . Col . Chaloner .

Bro . Col . CHALONER , M . P ., P . M . 472 and 1271 , W . M . 2644 . P . P . S . G . W . Dorset , and P . P . S . G . W . Wilts : Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master and brethren , I had the privilege of nominating his Royal Highness at our last Quarterly Communication . It is now my privilege to nominate him for election to that high office , and I am glad to think that in making this nomination there is no necessity for me to bring forward any powerful arguments in favour of it , because we have only to look back to

the tune many years ago when he was first nominated to the high office of Grand Master to see the enormous progress Masonry has made throughout the whole world and to see the hold it has got on the minds of the people in this country and the Empire at large to realise the amount of good we have received by his occupying the position of Most Worshipful Grand Master and the benefits Masonry has received under his guidance . But there is another reason , I think , why his name is the right one to propose for this important position . First of all , his rank as the first gentleman in the

country , as well as first gentleman in the Empire , if there were no other reason , who has done us the high honour to preside over us ; and then there are his personal qualities , his devotion to duty , as shown by the unselfishness in setting aside his own convenience to perform his duties to the Craft . For these reasons , if for no other , and there are others I could bring forward , if necessary , I believe we should do well to re-elect him , and I am proud to have the honour of proposing him for re-election . I beg lo move that H . R . H . the Prince of Wales be re-elected as Most Worshipful Grand Master .

Bro . Sir FORREST FULTON : Most Worshipful Grand Master in the Chair , I rise Io second the resolution which has been proposed in such felicitous terms by our brother , Col . Chaloner . Everyone present , I am sure , will agree with him that it is a good thing for the Craft that his Royal Highness should have presided so long over us , and that he may long be spared lo do so is the desire of us all . It is a good thing for the Craft , and it is a good thing for the Royal House that the two should be so connected for a period of 24 years . I beg to second the preposition .

Uarl AMHERST : Brethren , there being no other name before Grand Lodge , I declare'H . R . H . lhe Prince of Wales duly re-elected by acclamation . ( Loud applause . ) The Report of the Board of Benevolence for December , 18 9 8 , and January and February , 1 S 99 , was then read and adopted , and on the moiion of Bro . J . H . MATTHEWS , seconded by Bro . D . D . MERCER , the following recommendations of grants were confirmed : The widow of a brother of the St . John ' s Ledge , No , ni

, London ... ... ... ... ... £ 50 o 0 The widow of a brother cf the Lodge of Sincerity , No . 943 , Norwich ... ... ... ... 50 o o A biother of the Mornington Lodge , No . 1 ( 3 / 2 , Lon Ion ... 100 o o A brolher of the Carnarvon Lodge , No . H 72 , London ... 75 o o

A brolher of the Merchants Lodge , No . 241 , Liverpool .. 51 o o A brolher of the Perfect Ashlar Lodge , No . 117 . S , London 50 o o On the motion of Bro . R . LOVELAND-LOVELAND , Q . C , President , seconded by Bro . J . VV . BIRGESS , the report of the Board of General Purposes as published in the Freemason last week , was taken as read , and ordered to be received and entered on the minutes .

Bro . R . LOVELAND-LOVELAND , Q . C , in moving the adoption of the report , said the brethren would see in paragraph 1 of the report that the Board had tenders for the plans for building and lhat Messrs . Cubitt and Co . ' s was the lowest tender , that the Board had arranged for the buildings , which would cost something like £ 12 , 000 including the demolition of the next two houses . They were satisfied in every respeU with the plans which would meet the requirements of Grand Lodge . The brethren would also

see in paragraph 3 that the Board asked the brethren for the confirmation of a provisional contract they had entered into to let the two houses not to be demolished . They had already bought them for the sum named in the paper , first of all because Grand Lodge had not the accommodation to afford the Charities when they were very deeply in need of larger premises , and also because , he was sorry to tell the brethren , the premises they had authorised the Board to buy a short time ago at the rear of the hall so that they mi ght have an extension of the dais of Grand Lodge to get into the back

in case of fire , was scheduled by the London County Council in their new scheme for a street . They had consulted the solicitor to see whether it was not possible for Grand Lodge to hold the property ; but they would nave to oppose the bill , and if the third reading passed the Council would take compulsorily the back premises . They had bought the premises named , therefore , for the express purpose of enlarging the pall and for obtaining the very essential means of exit ¦ n case of fire . The brethren might be aware that they

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would have a very fine entrance at the back , and a good front ^ ga there to a great wide street , but , unfortunately , that was blocked up pu the scheme cf the London County Council , so that they would not only h $ v 8 the p remises taken from them , but also the door he had spoken of . It WAS with regard to that the Board asked the brethren for leave to complete the provisional contract which had been entered into subject to the approval of Grand Lodge . He asked now for the approval of the purchase of premise ;

further off , the third house from the hall . They had had a little difficulty as regarded Nos . 9 , 10 , and 11 , New-yard , with the tenant , but they hj | 4 taken possession , and would put them in repair for a temporary tenant from quarter to quarter . AH these arrangements were necessary for t ( iB further extension of Grand Lodge premises and the Charities' offices . The adoption of the Report having been seconded b y Bro . J . W BURGESS , was carried unanimously ; and as a separate motion , moved qy Bro . LOVELAND LOVELAND , seconded by Bro . J . W . BURGESS , "That tfog provisional contract be confirmed by Grand Lodge , " was put and carried , The Grand Lodge Auditors' Report was also adopted , and ordered i § be enteVed on the minutes .

Bro . HERISERT A . RIGG , Deputy Grand Registrar , brought up th $ appeal by Bro . J . R . Gibbons of Lodge Star of the South , No . 1025 , Buenos Ayres , Argentine Republic , against the decision of the District G . Master upholding his exclusion from the lodge for alleged un-Masonic conduct . He said Bro . Gibbons objected that the document of information was inadmissible , that the charge against him was too vague , and that there was

not sufficient cause to justify his exclusion . He then read the opinion of Bro . Strachan , Q . C , Grand Registrar , on the case , which set forth the facts , the exclusion of the appellant arising from his stating that he would blackball candidates , and that he did sa not because he objected to the Worshi pful Master , but because he had said he would blackball everyone . This was the charge of un-Masonic conduct . Bro . Strachan ' sopinion was that a very grave Masonic offence had been committed , and that Bro .

Gibbons was properly excluded . He had been called upon to confess , apologise , and resign , but he declined , and the vote of 24 against 4 , there being 29 members of the Iodge , was a majority of more than two-thirds , and he was properly excluded . The appeal should be dismissed . Bro . R . LOVELAND-LOVELAND , Q . C , seconded . The appeal was dismissed . The scrutineers of the ballot being here announced , they were admitte J , and Bro . A . C Spaull read the figures :

Bevan ... ,,. ... ... 1322 Manfield .,. ... ... ... 1026 Majority 296 Earl AMHERST thereupon declared Bro . Alfred H . Bevan dul y elected Grand Treasurer . Grand Lodge was then closed in ample form .

Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons.

GRAND LODGE OF MARK MASTER MASONS .

The Quarterly Communication of G . Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown was held on the 28 th ult ., at Mark Masons' Hall , Great Queenstreet , W . C . Bro . the Earl of Euston , Pro G . M ., presided ; Bro . the Hon . Alan de Talton Egerton acted as Deputy Grand Master ; and Bro . M ijor J . Woodall Woodall , as Past Grand Master ; Bro . Frank Richardson , as S . G . W . ; and Baron de Ferrieres , as J . G . W .

Among other biethren present were Bros . R . Loveland Loveland , Q . C . President of the General Board ; C F . Matier , G . Sec . ; Major C . W Carrell , G . D . C ; R chard Eve . P . G . Treas . j Gordon Miller , P . G . Treas . ; W . M . Stiles , P . G . Treas . ; Charles Hammerton , Dist . G . M . Gibraltar ; F . West , Dr . Balfour Ccckburn , P . G . D . C . ; W . A . Scurrah , Richard Clowes , Col . Lyne , C . Letch Mason , and James Boulton .

Grand Lodge having been opened in ample form , the minutes of December 6 th , 1 S 98 , meeting were read and confirmed . Bro . H . J . ADAMS rose to propose for re-tketion as M . W . Grand Master H . R . H . the Prince of Wales . He said the brethren might remember he had the honour and privilege to nominate his Royal Highness for the high office at the last Quarteily Communication , and he then had the great

indulgence of the breihren whilst he endeavoured to enumerate the many qualifications of his Royal Highness for ths offi : e . The brethren all knew the great interest the Prince of Wales took in Masonry and in Mark Masonry ; they all knew how on the occasion of the Jubilee of her Majesty and the Centenary Festivals of the other two Charities he took the chair at the Albert Hall , and what great results followed , especially last yea , when

he took the chair and presided at the Centenary Festival of the Boys ' School at the Albert Hall , at which an unprecedented amount of money was collected . ThePrinceof Wales also they knew took great interest in the welfare of the hospitals ofthe Metropolis , those grand institutions which did so much to alleviatehuman suffering . They knew his Royal H i g * hness started that fund called the Prince of Wales's Hospital Fund , which he was happy to say was

a success . Moreover , they knew how , during the Jub : lee year , H . R . H . the Grand Master of the Craft , convened that grand meeting at the Albert Hall which was so largely attended in order to p iss resolutions of congratulations to her Majesty on her long reign . In Masonry his R jyal Highness allowed himself to be nominated and elected Grand Mas '^ r of this Grand Lodge and in other Degrees . During the time he had been Grand Master , Masonry had made great progress not only in numbers but also in popularity .

It had often been said that owing to his high position he was the busiest and the hardest worked man in this country . That bsing so , he ( Bro . Adams ) proposedhis Royal Highnessforre-election and with these few words he would move " That his Royal Highness Albert Edward Prince of Wales be reelected as Most Worshipful Grand Master of Grand Mirk Lodge for tha ensuing year . " Bro . ALFRED H . BEVAN seconded .

The Earl of EUSTON said he did not think they could have a G rand Master who was more fit to be Grand Master than the Prince of Wales , who , as had been said , worked very hard . Although the Grand Lodge Officers worked under him in subordinate offices he cnild assure the brethrtn that from personal knowledge he knew the Prince of Wales took the greatest and deepest interest in the Mark ; he knew everything that went on in thia