United Grand Lodge.

¦ cM j not like repealing some of the Old Constitutions ; they had worked wel ' in the past ; probably they would work well in the future . There was no hurry , and he thought it mig ht be sent to the Board of General Purposes to be discussed calmly and coolly . He moved that those proposed additions be icferred tothe Board of General Purposes . New Zealand had been

referred to , but , to his mind , it showed how difficult it was to legislate for them . Ni w Z ^ a ' and had five District Grand Lodges . New Zealand was 700 miles f om top to bottom , and it was not easy for these lodges to coalesce and consider the subjects . Bro . Puii . nRicK said New Zealand had been recognised .

Bro . RICHARD E VE said with nil deference he said distinctly it had not bren . He had the report of Grand Lodger and the whole of the resolutions passed on that occasion . The KARL OF L ATHOM here said he was extremely sorry to be obliged to leave but he had to do so , and the Deputy Grand Master would take his place .

The Earl of I . athom was then conducted out of the Temple amidst cheers . Earl Amherst took the chair ; Bros . W . Beach , M . P ., acted as Deputy G . Master , and Dr . Balfour Cockburn as Past Grand Master . liro . RICHARD EVE , P . G . Treas ., continuing , said it was a small lodge meeling last Jul y , most of the brethren being out of London . The resolution then passed was , on an application by a body calling itself the Grand Ledge of New Zealand asking to be recognised as a separate

Mason c Sovereign authority . " That taking into consideration the message from the M . W . G . M . Grand Lodge requests that his Royal Hig hness will be pleased to lake such steps for the recognition of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand . " That was not recognition ; it was only taking steps for recognition . Recognition could only be done by this Grand Lodge . Bro . IOHN G LASS , P . M . 45 , 5 . seconded the amendment .

Bro . General L AI RIE , Prov . Grand Master for South Wales ( Western Division ) supported the proposal as one who had had experience of Colonial Masonry . •Bro . PHILISRICK having replied , The amendment was lost by 248 votes against 14 S .

Bro . Rev . R . J . SIMI ' , P . G . C , acting Grand Chaplain , said : R . W . Dep . G . Master in the chair , —I rise to propose an amendment which I would respectfully submit to Grand Lodge , and especially to our brother the Grand Registrar , in the hope that he may see his way to second it and commend it to the brethren of Grand Lodge . We all , I am sure , have full confidence in the judgment and legal ability of our Brother Philbrick

but as many brethren desire further consideration of the important subject he has brought before us ( and I confess I am one of them ) , I would propose that " the Grand Registrar call into consultation with him the Colonial Committee , Bro . Laurie ( whose excellent speech has much impressed us all , as inspired by his long Colonial experience ) , Bro . Fenn ( whose authority in Masonry is paramount ) , and also Bro . Eve ( who takes a deep inlerest in this question ) , and that the Grand Registrar be

requested to bring up his report and resolutions at the next Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge , in June . " By such an arrangement , we shall have further time for consideration , shall have a special combination of legal and Colonial experience , and , I trust , be enabled to send out to the Colonies , not merely the decision of a majority , however large , but the united voice of this United and unanimous Gaud Lodge upon this important subject .

Bro . Pmi . uRicK agreed , and the Committee was thereupon named . It consisted ol Bros . Philbrick , Gen . Laurie , Fenn , and Richard Kve , and the Celonial Committee of the Board of General Purposes . The t ' ommittee to report lo Grand Lodge in June . Bro . PiiiLHRKK brought up an appeal

—By Bro . Robert W . Bourne , P . M . of St . George ' s Lodge of Harmony , No . 32 , Liverpool , against a sentence of suspension from all Masonic privileges , passed on him by the Provincial Grand Master , for un-Masonic conduct and contumacy in not complying with a peremptory summons . Bro . Bourne himself did not put in an appearance .

Hro . PiiiLiiuicK stated the case , from which it appeared that the appellant first made serious charges against the founders of the Lancastiian Lodge in London , and when he was called upon to substantiate them , or apologise , he neglected to do so . Whereupon the Earl of Lathom , Bro . Bourne being a subscribing member of the Liverpool Lodge , appointed a Committee to enquire into the case , and Bro . Bourne was summoned to

attend at Liverpool for the purpose . He did not do so , but made an excuse that he was in London . The Earl of Lathom then appointed the Committee to . meet in London , which it did last April , and Bro . Bourne was again summoned . The enquiry was held at the Inns of Court Hotel , in his absence , and ihe Committee reported to the Provincial Grand Master . Still neglecting to attend or apologise , Lord

Lathom passed a sentence of suspension on Bro . Bourne until he should apologise . From this sentence he appealed and contended that the l \ ov . G . M ., had no jurisdiction over him as he was a London brother . Bro . Philbrick , however , said Bro . Bourne was still a subscribing member of a Liverpool lodge , and , therefore , was within Lord I . athorn ' s jurisdiction . He moved the dismissal of the appeal .

Bro . R . HORTON S MITH , Q . C , Dep . G . Reg ., who seconded the motion , thought Bro . Bourne had been dealt with very leniently in being suspended only until he apologised ; he might have been deprived altogether . The appeal was dismissed . Bro . J A . FARNFIELD brought up a report of a special general

meeting of Governors and Subscribers of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons " and Widows of Freemasons , dated February loth , 18 97 , will be laid before Grand Lodge , in which the following alteration of Rule I ., then agreed to , will be submitted for approval :

" No widow shall be eligible under the age of Oo years , nor unless her last husband had been a subscribing member for 15 years to a lodge , " by substituting the word " ten " for " fifteen . "

The alteration was come to for the purpose of reducing the time for the elig ibility of a widow . As the law stood before , if a brother had been incapacitated by blindness , paralysis , or anything , his widow was not qualified for election lo the annuity unless he had subscribed I 5 years . This was looked upon as a little too long a time , and the special general meeting reduced the

time to 10 years . Bro . G EORGE FAIRCIHI . D seconded the motion , which was then unani nrously agreed to . Grand Lodge was then closed in due form .

Consecration Of The Christ's Hospital Lodge, No. 2650.

CONSECRATION OF THE CHRIST'S HOSPITAL LODGE , No . 2650 .

An interesting function was held at _ Christ ' s Hospital , Newgate-street , E . C , on Thursday , the 25 th ult ., when the Court Room of the ancient building was well filled with brethren—including a large proportion of Grand

Ollicers—to witness the consecration of the Christ ' s Hospital Lodge , No . 2 ( 150 . The ceremony was performed by Bro . E . Letchworth , F . S . A ., Grand Secretary , assisted by Bros . Thos . Fenn , P . G . W ., as S . W . ; Robt . Grey , P . G . W ., as J . VV . ; Rev . Archdeacon Stevens , G . Chap ., as Ch ap . ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D ., as D . C , and J . D . Langton , D . G . D . C , as I . G ,

The founders of the new lodge are Bros . Alderman W . Vaughan Morgan , P . M . 96 , W . M . designate ; Lieut .-Col . Edward J . Gardiner , P . M . GO *; ; Richard Lee Franks , J . W . 9 6 ; Ernest Sidney Standing , J . W . 2599 ; Rev . Ernest Harold Pearce , 181 ; Thomas Webb Whitmarsh , P . G . P . ; Henry Bue , P . G . Std . Br . ; Thomas Moysey , Stwd . 2128 ; John Farquharson Roberts , 7 ( 1 ; James Martin , 63 ; Arthur R . King-Farlow ,

P . M . 1150 ; Alderman Sir Reginald Hanson , Birt ., P . G . D . ; Alderman Sir Joseph C Dimsdale , P . G . T . ; John Henry Clu ' . ton , P . M . 1537 ; Joseph Rock , P . M . 1 ; R . Melvill Beachcroft , P . M . 6 31 ; Septimus Croft , P . M . 16 57 ; Elphege Janau , P . M . 16 41 ; William Newman , J . VV . 2396 ; Fiederick John Smith , M . D ., 171 ; and William Henry Cross , 2546 . The visitors present included :

Bros . Sir J . B . Monckton , P . G . W . ; J . C . Parkinson , P . G . D . j H . Maudslay , P . G . D . ; T . H . Gardiner , P . A . G . D . C ; P . de Lande Long , P . G . D . •R . St . 'A Roumieu , P . G . S . of Wks . ; H . Tipper , P . G . P . ; F . Gordon Brown , A . G . D . C . •V . Coles , P . G . S . B . ; C . Godson , P . G . D . ; H . A . Hunt , P . G . S . of Wks . ; H . Mackintosh , P . A . G . D . C ; Lennox Browne , P . D . G . D . C ; P . Nairne , P . G . D . * W Ganz , P . G . Org . ; C . F . Matier , P . G . S . B . ; R . Eve , P . G . Treas . ; H . Love ' grove , G . S . B . ; E . St . Clair , A . G . D . C ; H . Sadler , G . Tyler ; J . Stephens ,

P . G . W . Bucks ; C . Wilkinson-Pimbury , I . P . M . 2241 ; Rev . S . T . H . Saunders P . P . G . Chap . Middx . ; C . Upton , I . P . M . 63 ; O . W . Chant , I . G . 2128 ; E . Vaughan Morgan , P . M . 39 ; W . Nicholson Haydon , J . D . 2128 ; F . L . Perken P . M . C > 5 ; S . J . Notley , P . M . 1150 ; C . Lewis , P . P . G . D . Essex ; J . Gordon Langton , P . M . 96 ; E . R . Bartley Denniss , Prov . J . G . W . Middx . ; F . Bevan , P . M . 1706 ; J . Maurice Franks , P . M . 376 ; G . F . Marshall , P . M . 69 , •H . Haynes , P . M . 162 ; H . G . Cubitt , P . M . ; J . H . Dimsdale , J . W . 2581 j H . W . Schartau , P . P . G . Org . ; A . Eade , P . M . 1580 ; and W . W . Lee , Prov . G . D . Middx .

I ne Grand Officers entered the court-room in procession , and the lodge having been opened , the opening hymn was sung . The CONSECRATING OFFICER then addressed the brethren and said We are met together this afternoon for the purpose of undertaking a ceremony which has never before been performed with in these ancient

wallsthe constitution of a new lodge and . its dedication to God ' s service . The new lodge we are about to start into existence will hereafter be known as the Christ ' s Hospital Lodge , and I can only ex press a hope that that same spirit of brotherly love and Charity which in spired the royal and pious founder to establish this interesting Institution may influence all those who in yeais to come are connected with this lodge .

I he ceremony was then proceeded with , and an eloquent oiation having been delivered by Bro . Rev . Archdeacon STEVENS , the new lodge was formally dedicated and constituted . Bro . Alderman W . Vaughan Morgan , P . M ., W . M . designate , was then

installed by the Grand Secretary , and the following officers were appointed and invested : Bros . Lieut .-Col . E . J . Gardiner , P . M ., acting I . P . M . ; R . L . Franks , J . VV . 96 , S . W . ; E . S . Standing , J . W . 2599 , J . W ; Rev . E . H . Pearce , Chap . ; J . W . Whitmarsh , P . G . P ., Treas . ; H . Bud P . G . S . B ., Sec . ; T . Moysey , S . D . ; J . F . Roberts , J . D . ; J . Martin , I . G . ; A . R . King Farlow , P . M ., D . C . ; and P . F . Madden , 'l \ ler .

' the WoRsmi'FUL MASTER expressed grateful thanks to the Consecrating Officers for their services . He said that many a good work had been done in that building in times past , and he hoped the good work of that day would leave a lasting impression . He also invited the Consecrating Officers to become honorary members , and presented the Granel Secretary with a founder ' s jewel as a souvenir of the occasion .

Bro . E . LETCHWORTH , G . Sec , tendered thanks for himself and colleagues . Several candidates were proposed for initiation and joining , all of whom were educated at Christ ' s Hospital , or are now connected with it . Letters of regret were read from many distinguished brethren , and the lodge was closed .

A banquet was subsequently held at the Cannon-street Hotel , under the presidency of the W . M ., when the usual loyal and Masonic toasts received hearty recognition . In giving " The Queen and the Craft , " the W . M . said that that year " would go down in the record of ages as the one in which her Majesty completed her 60 years' reign , and he hoped that amongst the most pleasing events would be the consecration of the Christ ' s Hospital Lodge . The

Duke of Cambridge had been for 43 years President of Christ ' s Hospitalthe longest presidency on record . Although his Royal Hi ghness , unfortunately , was not a Freemason , he was represented at the meeting by an admirable portrait which he had lately presented to the Governors , and which was hung on the walls of the court room just in time for the consecration of the lodge . " The Prince of Wales , M . W . G . M ., " having been honoured

, The W . M . proposed " The Grand Officers , " and said it was a great honour to see so many Grand Officers present , most of whom had obtained their rank by good services to the Craft in various capacities . The Pro Grand Master had done good work for many years , and he ( the W . M . ) was present when he _ assisted at the consecration of the Rahere Lodge . He would couple with the toast the name of Bro . J . C . Parkinson , whom he

was pleased to see back again in time to attend the consecration of that lodge . Bro . J . C . PARKINSON , P . G . D ., tendered the thanks and warm congratulations of the Grand Officers upon the successful inauguration of what , he was sure , was destined to be a most prosperous lodge . The W . M . had

alluded to the happy year in which that lod ge was consecrated , and expressed the hope that its record would be illumined b y the consecration of Christ ' s Hospital Lodge . He was expressing the feelings not only of the Grand Officers , but oi the Craft at large , when he hoped that that would be a record year for the W . M ., inasmuch as it would be the last year in which by any possibility he would propose that toast . Having just come from