United Grand Lodge Of England.

UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND .

The Quarterly Communication of the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Ennlnnd Was held on Wednesday evening at Freemasons' Hall . The Earl of Carnarvon , M . W . Pro G . Master , was on the Throne . Bro . W . W . B . Beach , M . P ., R . W . Prov . G . M . of Hants and the Isle of Wight , acted as R . W . Dep . G . M . ; Lord Herschell was in his chair of Grand Senior Warden , and Col . Sackville West , P . G . J . W ., acted as G . J . W . The other Grand and Past Grand Officers present

were—Bros , the Earl of Carnarvon , ProG . M . ; W . W . B . Beach , as D . G . M . ; Lord Herschell , G . S . W . ; Rev . J . N . Palmer , G . Chaplain j Rev . W . Mortimer Heath , G . Chaplain ; D . P . Cama , G . Treasurer ; F . A . Philbrick , G . Registrar ; Thomas Fenn , President ofthe Board of General Purposes ; Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Secretary ; E . E . Wendt , G . Sec . Ger . Cor . ; Samuel Pope . G . 5 . D . ; Ralph Glutton , G . j . D . ; J . E . Le Feuvre , G . J . D . ; Sir Albert Woods , G . D . of C . ; R . G . Glover , Dep . G . D . ot C . ; H . T . Wood , Asst . G . D . of C ; W . Roebuck , G . S . B .: E . D . Davis , G . S . B . ; H .

Greene , G . S . B . ; W . Parratr , G . Org . ; A . Lucking , G . Purst . ; W . H . Ferryman , A . G . P . ; Hugh D . Sandeman , P . D . G . M . Bengal ; Aubrey Saunders , P . D . G . M . Madras ; Victor A . Williamson , P . G . W . ; Sir John B . Monckton , P . G . W . ; Hon . W . E . Sackville West , P . G . W . ; Rev . J . E . Cox , P . G . C .,- Rev . T . Cochrane , P . G . C ; Rev . H . Adair Pickard , P . G . C . ; Rev . Canon G . R . Portal , P . G . C . ; Rev . R . N . Sanderson , P . G . C ; Major J . W . Woodall , P . G . Treas . ; Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . D . ; J . C . Parkinson , P . G . D . ; C . W . C . Hutton , P . G . D . ; Jabez Hogg-, P . G . D . ; Dr . Ralph Gooding ,

P . G . D . ; F . Davison , P . G . D . ; J . A . Rucker , P . G . D . ; Baron de Ferrieres , P . G . D . ; Robert Grey , P . G . D . ; I . Glaisher , P . G . D . ; J . M . Case , P . G . D . ; James S . Eastes , P . G . D . ; T . H . Devonshire , P . G . D . ; E . Letchworth , P . G . D . ; Haynham Stewart , P . G . D . ; R . Costa , P . G . D . j H . J . P . Dumas , P . G . D . ; E . J . Barron , P . G . D . ; Major J . S . Peirce , P . G . D . ; A . Meadows , P . G . D . ; I . E .

Saunders , P . G . D . ; C . A . Murton , P . G . D . ; F . H . Goldney , P . G . D . ; J . Lewis Thomas , P . A . G . D . C ., R . Turtle Pigott , P . A . G . D . C . ; Raymond H . Thrupp , P . A . G . D . C ; C . Harding , P . A . G . D . C ; Dr . W . R . Woodman , P . G . S . B . ; Major G . Lambert , P . G . S . B . ; Lieut .-Col . James Peters , P . G . S . H . ; J . H . Matthews , P . G . Std . Br . ; Edgar Bowyer , P . G . Std . Br . ; S . G . Foxall , P . G . P . ; T . Cubitt , P . G . P . ; lames Brett , P . G . P . ; and others .

About 500 brethren were present . On the entry of the Earl of Carnarvon his lordship was greeted with loud applause . The GRAND SECRETARY having read the minutes , before they were put for confirmation , Bro . j . S . CUMBERLAND called attention to the election of the Treasurer to the Benevolent Institution , which , he argued , was irregular , an alteration having been made in the rule , for a Treasurer , immediately elected before

the alteration , had been approved by Grand Lodge . The PRO GRAND MASTER , after this explanation , said the observations might be very proper indeed to be considered at the regular time and occasion , but he thought that the subject could not be entertained that evening . He did not think it interfered with the minutes now to be put . ( Bro . Philbrick here made a communication to his lordship . ) He found he

was mistaken with regard to this having nothing to do with the minutes of the last Quarterly Communication , but at thesame time this did not seem to him the best occasion for discussing the question , and perhaps Bro . Cumberland would be content with having brought the subject forward , and allow the minutes to be put . The minutes were then put and confirmed .

I he PRO GRAND MASTER then said ; Brethren , before we proceed to th e business which stands on the agenda paper it is my duty , as the representative of H . R . H . the M . W . G . M ., to make a communication to you , and I can hardly doubt , from all that I have heard , that thecommunicaiion will be acceptable to Grand Lodge . I am desired by H . R . H . to bring under your notice the present duties and position of the President of the Board of Benevolence , and to submit the following resolution to your notice : —

That the President of the Board of Benevolence shall , by virtue of his office , be a Grand Officer , with rank next to Past Grand Secretaries , and that on retiring from office he shall rank as a Past Grand Officer , in the same manner as the other officers of Grand Lodge , and that the Book of Constitutions be altered accordingly . lt needs very little explanation on my part to bring that message duly before you . You are all aware who have been habitual attendants of this Grand Lodge how largely the business of the Board of Benevolence has of late

years grown . Every Quarterl y Communication we pass several grants , varying no doubt in amount ; but olten running to very considerable figures , in which we dispense our Masonic Charity to our less fortunate brethren ; but ail of those grants when they come before us , though generally passed without much delay , mean very serious previous consideration , and the Board of Benevolence has of recent years , as you all know , both enlarged the scope of its duties , and has more business thrown upon it , and it is very

important that the President of that Board should hold a fitting position in the representation of Grand Lodge . ( Hear , hear . ) It is therefore , as you are aware , an office in the appointment ol H . R . H . the Grand Master ; it is also an appointment which is made annually ; though , as a matter of fact , generally the same person is selected for the office . We have unfortunately to lament to-night the loss of one who filled this office for a long period , who was , I believe , universally respected in the Craft —( hear , hear )

—for his courtesy , his kindness , his Masonic Charity , and the devotion with which he gave himself to the discharge of his duties . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) That place it is the duty of the Grand Master to fill , and I think when I announce to you the name of Bro . Grey —( cheers)—you will be of opinion that a worthy choice is made . ( Hear , hear , ) Therefore , with these few words , partly of sincere and genuine regret for him of whom we have

been deprived by death , and partly to announce to you the change which H . R . H . the Grand Master thinks it expedient to make , I now commit this resolution to your hands . Sir J B . MONCKTON seconded the motion , thinking it a most wise regulation to be made . The motion was carried .

Sir P . CUNLIFFE OWEN : M . W . Pro Grand Master , it has fallen to my good fortune to propose H . R . H . the Prince of Wales as Grand Master for the ensuing year . ( Hear , hear . ) In doing so I may perhaps be allowed to refer to the many claims which his Royal Highness has upon all Masons throughout the kingdom , and I trust very much that I may be allowed also to allude to this auspicious day—the birthday of H . R . H . the Princess of Wales—a fact which is gratifying to all Masons . With your permission , M . W . Pro G . M ., I will defer what more I have to say to a future occasion

when I shall have to propose the election of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales as Grand Master for the ensuing year . ( Applause . ) Bro . ROBERT BERRIDGE had great pleasure in nominating as Grand Treasurer for the ensuing year Bro . Augustus Frederick Godson , M . A . Oxon and M . P . Kidderminster . He was made a Master Mason in 1865 , was W . M . of St . Michael ' s Lodge , 1097 , in the year 1868 , and was now Dep . Prov . G . M . of Worcestershire ; was made a Royal Arch Mason in 1867 , and was now Prov . G . H , of Worcestershire : was Patron and House Com-

United Grand Lodge Of England.

mitteeman of the Bovs' School , and acted as Chairman at the laying of the foundation stone of the Preparatory School ; had served six Stewardships ; was Vice-President of the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls' and a Vice-President of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and he has also been on many occasions Steward for each of the Institutions . He had known Bro . Godson many years in Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire , and no one would serve the office of Grand Treasurer better .

Bro . G . A . VENNELL , W . M . 165 , nominated Bro . Richard Eve , l . P . M . 165 . He need not say much about Bro . Eve ' s claims , but they were sufficient to recommend him to Grand Lodge . Bro . Eve had been a Mason over 30 years , and was installed in his mother lodge as Master in 1866 . He had now been a P . M . 25 years . In addition to this he had served the

office of Steward 25 times . He was now a member of the Grand Master ' s Lodge , No . 1 . He was also Vice-President and Vice-Patron of each of the Charities . He had many other qualifications which showed he was at heart a Mason and a man who had done his duty and his best . Other matters he would mention at the election in March .

GRAND SECRETARY announced that in consequence of the lamented death of Bro . E . C . Mather , 23 , G . Stwd ., the Globe Lodge had nominated Bro . Edward Nixey in his place , and the Grand Master had approved of it . The PRO GRAND MASTER : I have now to comply with the formality of announcing that the President of the Board of Benevolence is our Bro . Robert Grev , and I think the acclamation with which his name has been

received shows how acceptable a choice our Grand Master has made . ( Cheers . ) I have to announce also the election of a Senior and Junior Vice-President of the Board of Benevolence , Bros , James Brett and Chas . Cottebrune . No others having been nominated . I have also to state the election of 12 Past Masters to serve on the Board of Benevolence for the year ensuing . Twelve only had been nominated and they had been declared elected .

The following is the list : Bros . Geo . Pole Britten , 183 ; Wm . P . Brown , 90 ; Thos . Cull , 1446 ; Geo . A . Cundy , 901 ; Chas . Dairy , 141 ; L . C . Haslip . 813 ; C . F . Hogard , 205 ; David D . Mercer , 1641 ; Geo . Read , 511 ; Francis R . Spaull , 1768 ; Robt . J . Taylor , 144 ; and Alfd . C . Woodward , 1538 . GRAND SECRETARY read the following extract from the report of the Board of Benevolence .

Before the business of the evening ( 20 th October ) was commenced , Bro . James Brett , the S . V . P ., in tbe chair , reported to the Board the death , on the 29 th ult ., of their President , Bro . Joshua Nunn , P . G . Swd . Br ., and spoke in feeling terms of the severe loss which the Board of Benevolence and the Craft generally had sustained by the melancholy event .

It was thereupon unanimously resolved : That a record be placed on the proceedings , and in their report to Grand Lodge , of the extreme regret felt by all the members of the Board at the loss of their esteemed President , who , after holding for eleven years the office of Vice-President , _ had for the last five years presided over the Board with the utmost courtesy , impartiality , and ability .

The following recommendations ot the Board ot Benevolence were then confirmed . The widow of a brother of the Royal St . Edmunds Lodge , No . ' 100 S . Burv St . Edmunds ... ... ¦•• — £ 100 o o

The mother of a brother of the Kingston Lodge , No . 1010 , Hull 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Vitruvian Lodge , No , Sj , London ... 50 o o A brother of the St . Mark ' s Lodte , No . 857 , London ... ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Northern Counties Lodge , No . 406 Newcastle-on-Tyne ... ... ••• 75 o o A brother of the Lebanon Lodge , No . 1326 , Feltham ... 50 o o A brother of the Sir Charles Bright Lodge , No . 1793 , Teddington too o o

A brother of the Whittington Lodge , No . S 6 J , London ... 50 o o A brother of the Royal Albert Lodge , No . 907 , London ... 50 o O The widow of a brother of the St . Tudno Lodge , No . 755 , Llandudno ... ... ... ••• 50 o o A brother of the L-opold Lodge , No . 1669 , London ... ... 50 o o A brother ofthe Sir Francis Burdett Lodge , No . 1503 , Twickenham 50 o o The widow of a brother of the New Concord Lodge , No . 813 ,

London ... ... ... ... ••• 50 o o A brother of the Lindsay Lodge , No . 712 , Louth ... ... 100 . o o The following report of the Board of General Purposes was taken as read and received , and ordered to be entered on the minutes .

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF G ENERAL PURPOSES . To the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ot England . The attention of the Board having been called to the wording of Articles 304 , 307 , and 308 of the Book of Constitutions , the Board think it advisable , in order to avoid any misunderstanding , that the Articles in question should be altered to read as follows : —

304 . The Officers and Past Masters of the Grand Stewards' Lodge wear collars of crimson ribbon four inches broad . 307 . The collars of the Officers and Past Masters of private lodges to be light blue ribbon four inches broad ; if silver chain be used , it must be placed over the light blue ribbon .

3 o 8 . The collars of the Officers and Past Masters of private lodges are to be worn only in their own lodges , or when attending the Grand Lodge or their Provincial or District Grand Lodges as Masters , Past Masters , oe Wardens . ( Signed ) THOMAS FENN , President . Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , 16 th November , 1886 .

To the report is subjoined a statement of the Grand Lodge accounts , at the meeting of the Finance Committee , held on Friday , the 12 th day of November inst ., showing a balance in the Bank of England of £ 2511 os . 4 d ., and in the hands of the Grand Secretary for petty cash £ 100 , and for servants' wages ^ 100 , and balance of annual allowance for library £ 9 12 s . 3 d . Bro . THOS . FENN , President of the Board of General Purposes , in

moving the resolutions arising out of the report , said he wished to call the attention of Grand Lodge to three notices of motion by Bro . Nicholl , P . M . 317 , Manchester . The first of these he did not quite understand though he had read them very carefully . The first did not appear to touch any of the recommendations of the Board , and the second , although it referred to Rule No . 307 , did not indeed prevent the passing of the resolution . With

respect to the third it was somewhat in the nature of an amendment to the third recommendation of the Board , in fact it was more than an amendment , and more than a negative , and went to annul entirely 308 as it stood in the Book of Constitutions . Therefore , he thought it should be taken and discussed with the third recommendation of the Board . Bro . Nicholl considered that as a P . M . was not an officer of a lodge he did not come under the operation of Rule No . 308 . Well , a P . M . was not an