United Grand Lodge Of England.

in harness , and his last hours were given to the work of the Craft . I now wish to move , " That in recognition of the eminent services of the late Grand Secretary , Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , a sum equal to six months of his salary be voted from the Fund of General Purposes and paid into the Bloomsbury Branch of the London and Westminster Bank , to the account of the Earl of Lathom , the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , and Sir Albert W . Woods , Trustees of " The Shadwell Clerke Trust , " for the purpose of purchasing a Government Life Annuity for Mrs . Clerke .

Bro " . ihe Earl of MOUNT EDGCUMBE , D . G . M ., seconded the motion . The motion was carried unanimously , and amidst applause . Bro . the Earl of LATHOM announced with regret the death of Lieut .-Col . Haldane , and said that the M . W . G . M . had appointed Sir George David Harris , P . G . D ., a member of the Board of General Purposes , Chairman of the Colonial Board , in place of Lieut .-Col . Haldane .

Bro . PENDLEHURY , A . G . Sec , informed the M . W . Pro Grand Master that in consequence of the lamented death of Bro . Bonamy Dobrce , jun ., of the Lodge of Friendship , No . 6 , a Grand Steward , the lodge had nominated Bro . Edwards to take his place , and that the nomination had been approved by the M . W . G . M . Bro . Pendlebury added that he had received a letter from the Secretary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution , which was as follows :

Royal National Lifeboat Institution , 14 , John Street , Adelphi , London , W . C ., Dear Sir , IS * February , 1892 . I have very much pleasure in acquainting you that I have just received a telegram reporting that the lifeboat " Albert Edward , " at Clacfon-on-Sea , has rescued 11 persons from the Norwegian barque "Saga , " bound from Gottenburg for London , which had stranded on the sunk land and was breaking up . —Faithfully

yours , The Grand Secretary , CHARF . ES DIISDIN , Secretary . Freemasons' Hall , W . C . The reading of the letter was followed by general applause . Bro . H . H . CRAWFORD ( City Solicitor ) , P . G . Stwd ., rose to propose the re-election of H . R . H . the Prince of Wales as M . W . G . M . for the year

ensuing . He said that at the Quarterly Communication of 2 nd December last it was his great privilege to submit to Grand Lodge the nomination of their illustrious brother H . *" R . H . the Prince of Wales for the office of Grand Master for the ensuing year . He rose , therefore , now , in accordance with ancient custom , to propose to Grand Lodge the re-election of that distinguished and much-esteemed brother as the M . W . G . M . The minutes of

the last lodge , just read by the Assistant Grand Secretary , recorded the passing of resolutions by Grand Lodge expressing the feelings of the brethren in the irreparable loss sustained by his Royal Highness . That was passed unanimously by this Grand Lodge , and the resolution concluded by expressing fidelity to the head of the Order and loyalty and attachment to the Heir Apparent of this kingdom . To-night they had an opportunity

of g iving practical expression to that resolution by unanimously and with enthusiasm re-electing their illustrious brother to the highest position it was their proud privilege to be able to bestow . They could not be unmindful of the fact that their Most Worshipful Grand Master had held that high office for a term of seventeen years , and during that period they could not forget the rapid strides Masonry had made , involving

necessarily increased labours upon the MAN' . G . M . Since the Prince of Wales became G . M ., 900 lodges had been added to the roll of the Grand Lodge of England , and members had been added to the Order by hundreds and by thousands . Consequently there must have been a great increase in the work devolving upon the Grand Master . Upon this ground , as well as upon other grounds , he ( Bro . Crawford ) asked the brethren that

nig ht to confer the greatest honour on the Prince of Wales it was in their power to bestow , by unanimously re-electing their distinguished brother his Royal Hig hness the Prince of Wales to the office of Grand Master . Bro . C . K . BENSON , Wrexham , rose to second the motion . He thought it rig ht that the motion should be seconded by a brother of the Principality

from which his Royal Hig hness took his title . It was on behalf of the Principality that he seconded the motion . The motion was carried unanimously . The Earl of LATHOM informed the brethren that he had received the report of the Scrutineers of votes for the election of Grand Treasurer , and it was as follows :

Bro . ] . S . Cumberland 102 Bro . J . D . Murray 582 Majority for Bro . Murray 480 The following Report of the Board of Benevolence for December , 1 S 91 , and January and February , 1892 , was then adopted , and the recommendations therein were confirmed : Report of the Board of Benevolence for the last quarter , in which are recommendations for the following grants , viz : —

The widow of a brother of the Cedewain Lodge , No . 1594 , Newtown , Montgomeryshire £$ o ° ° A brother of the Cripplegate Lodge , No . 1613 , London ... 50 o o A brother of the Paxton Lodge , No . 1686 , London ... 100 o o The widow of a brother of the St . George ' s Lodge , No . 112 , Exeter 150 o O

The following Report of the Board of General Purposes was taken as read : To the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England . The Board have had under consideration the salary of the Grand Secretary , which was fixed by Grand Lodge in 18 74 at ^ 500 per annum , rising by £ 50 per annum to a maximum of . £ 800 . In 1887 the salary of the late Grand Secretary , Colonel Shadwell H . Clerke , was raised tii jfiooo

The Boaro , taking inio consideration the peculiar nature of the qualifications for the otlice of Grand Secretary , the imporiant duties he is called upon to perform , the great increase ill [ he work since ' 874 , and that there is no pension on retirerm . nt , unanimously lecommend that Ihe salary ol Grand Secretary on appointment be ^ 1000 per annum .

Ihe Board also submit a statement of the Grand Lodge accounts at the last mi . eting of the Finance Committee , held on Friday , the 12 < h day of February instant , showing a balance in the Bank of England ( Western Branch ) of ; £ t ) 04 i lis . ¦ oi ) ., and in the hands of the Grand Secretary for petly cash . £ 100 , and for servants' w iges £ 100 , and balance of annual allowance for horary £ S 5 s . 8 d .

( Signed ) THOMAS FE . V . V , Freima-ons' Hall , London , W . C ., President . 16 th February , 1892 . Bro . THOMAS FK . VN , P . G . D ., President of the Board , moved , and Bro . LENNOX BROWNE , Vice-President , seconded , the recommendation respecting

United Grand Lodge Of England.

the Grand Secretary ' s salary . Bro . Fenn said that in a very full Board it was unanimously agreed to recommend this proposal for the adoption by Grand Lodge . A BROTHER rose to move as an amendment or addition , " That 10 per cent , of the salary be retained in the hands of the Board of General

Purposes for forming a fund to provide for a Grand Secretary ' s widow . " He referred to the circular which was being sent to lodges for the purpose of enhancing the income of Col . Clerke ' s widow . His amendment would prevent the recurrence of any similar proposition . Another BROTHER seconded the motion .

Bro . PiiiT . iiRiCK said it would be a very inconvenient thing to pledge Grand Lodge to an amendment to that resolution , because if a Grand Secretary did not leave a widow , they would be deducting if ) per cent , from the salary to provide for a person who did not exist . The amendment was lost , and the recommendation carried .

On the motion of Bro . VENN , seconded by Bro . LENNOX BROWNE , the report of Bro . John Smith , Auditor of Grand Lodge accounts , was received , and ordered to be entered on the minutes , and Grand Lodge was then closed .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cheshire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF CHESHIRE .

A special meeting of the above Prov . Grand Lodge was held at the Royal George Hotel , Knutsford , on Saturday , the 27 th ult ., for the purpose of voting addresses of condolence to her Majesty the Queen and to the Prince and Princess of Wales in their recent severe bereavement . Bro . Lord Egerton of Tat ton , P . G . M ., presided , and there were also present Bros , the Hon . Tatton Egerton , M . P ., as Dep . P . G . M . ; W . Robinson , P . S . G . W . ;

R . Newhouse , Prov . G . Sec . ; M . Longrtdge , Prov . Asst . G . Sec . ; H . Finch , P . G . Reg . ; Rev . R . Hodgson , P . G . C . ; Rev . T . W . Sturgess , P . G . C . ; James Salmon , P . P . S . G . W . ; F . Broadsmith , P . G . Reg . ; W . Ramsden , P . P . G . D . : J . Wagstaffe , P . G . Std . Br . ; T . S . Burgess , P . G . Stwd . ; C . W . Phillips , P . G . Stwd . ; J . Lithcrland , P . G . Stwd . ; John Lewis , P . P . D . G . D . C . ; A . Ingram , P . P . G . S . ; and a large number of Past Prov . Grand Officers and brethren .

His LORDSHIP said that only about a month had elapsed since they last met to move addresses of congratulation on the then approaching marriage of the Duke of Clarence and Avondale . They little thought they would so soon have to meet to reverse those proceedings , and to forward addresses of condolence on the severe loss they had sustained . A universal feeling of sympathy had pervaded not onl y Great Britain and her dependencies , but the whole of the civilised world . They all knew how during her reign her

Majesty had always warmly sympathised with those in trouble and adversity . It was their bounden duty to do all they could to reciprocate that generous feeling , and to assure her Majesty of their devotion to her person and their sincere condolence with her in her allliction . He trusted the sympathy of her people would be a source of consolation to her , and that they as Masons would endeavour to share her griefs as they would to share her joys . He moved " That an address of condolence be forwarded to her Majesty on behalf of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cheshire . "

Bro . SALMON , P . P . S . G . W ., seconded the motion with deep feelings of regret . On the motion of Bro . the Hon . TATTON EGERTON , M . P ., seconded by Bro . W . Rom . vso . v , P . S . G . W ., a second address of condolence was ordered to be forwarded to the Prince and Princess of Wales .

Prior to closing Prov . Grand Lodge , Bro . Lord EGERTON or TATTON said that while it was only seemly and proper no other business should be transacted , he could not help saying how gratifying it had been to him , as it must have been to the brethren of the province , to learn that they had collected no less a sum than £ 175 " in aid of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows . It was a very great

satisfaction to learn that the handsome amount of £ 60 , 000 had been collected in England during the past year for that Institution , from which a considerable income would be derived for those in distress or old age . His lordship further announced that he should lay the foundation-stone of a porch at St . Mary ' s Church , Chester , in memory of Bro . Randle Holme , a

distinguished antiquarian and Freemason of the 17 th century , on Easter Monday , when he hoped to have the support of a large number of brethren . Immediately after the above provincial meeting , the Prov . Grand Mark Lodge was held at the same place , Lord Egerton of Tatton , P . G . M ., presiding . The same resolutions were passed in a marked degree of solemnity .

Grand Mark Lodge.

GRAND MARK LODGE .

The Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and the Colonics and Dependencies of the British Crown was held on Tuesday evening at Mark Masons' Hall . The Earl of Euston , D . G . M ., presided . Bro . C . Letch Mason , Prov . G . M . West

Yorkshire , acted as D . G . M . ; Col . A . B . Cook , as S . G . W . ; and Sir Reginald Hanson , M . P ., as J . G . W . Grand Lodge having been formally opened , the minutes of Grand Lodge of December , 189 , 1 , and of the Special Grand Lodge of January 27 th , 1892 , were read and confirmed .

Bro . MATIKR , before the minutes of the Special Grand f . odge were put for confirmation , said he had received the following gracious reply from the Prince of Wales to the address of condolence passed at the Special Grand Lodge : Marlborough House , 24 th February , 1892 .

Sir Francis Knollys is desired to convey to the Pro Grand Master , the Dep 11 ' )' Grand Master , Grand Officers and brethren of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown the most sincere thanks of the Prince of Wales for the warm and fraternal sympathy they have so kindly expressed on the sad occasion of his Royal Hig" ' ness ' s great bereavement .

On the motion of the Earl of EUSTON , seconded by Bro . BERRit > f ; i : '' was resolve-1 that this reply should be entered on the minutes . On the motion of Bro . ALFRED WILLIAMS , seconded by Bro . rL BERRIDGK , the following report of the General Board was taken as read , a "" ordered to be received and entered on the minutes :