United Grand Lodge Of England.

that the Great Architect of the Universe will , in His compassionate mercy , vouchsafe to her Majesty and to the widowed Princess strength to bear with calmness and fortitude the irreparable loss they have sustained . Bro . the Earl of MOUNT EDGCUMBE : Most Worship ful Pro Grand Master in the Chair , —I ask to be allowed , on behalf of the Grand Lodge ,

to srcond this resolution , well knowing that it represents the feelings of every member of Grand Lodge , whether absent or present , and that the hearts of all the brethren went out to their Queen and to the widowed Princess , her beloved daughter , in the sad hour of their recent affliction , and that they share their grief for the loss of the gallant Prince who died for this country . I beg to second the resolution .

The motion was carried unanimously , after which the Earl of Lathom was compelled , by an official engagement , to leave , and his place was taken by the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe , Bro . Beach acting as D . G . M ., and Bro . T . F . Halsey as P . G . M . Bro . S . B . BANCROFT , P . M . 1 S 1 , in proposing for re-election as M . W . Grand Master his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , said : Right

Worship ful Deputy Grand Master in the Chair , —Almost at the eleventh hour only did I know that the honour I recently enjoyed of nominating our august chief was to be followed by the pride I now have in proposing our illustrious and Most Worshipful Grand Master , his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales , for re-election to that high place . Grand Lodge which , in its fraternity , gives me this privilege , would justly hold me presumptuous did I

not allow these simple words to be my speech , for all hsre know well that the constant services so long rendered to Masonry by the Prince of Wales are so far be ) ond price , as the return we dutifully make to his Royal Highness is always priceless , our universal loyalty , esteem , and brotherly love . R'ght Worship ful Deputy Grand Master in the Chair , I beg to conclude with the honour of submitting my proposal to Grand Lodge .

Bro . T . H . G ARDINER , P . M . 1150 , seconding the motion said : Right Worship ful Deputy Grand Master in the chair , after the eloquent words we have heard from Bro . Bancroft but few words are necessary from me as seconder of his resolution to add lustre to our Most Worshipful Grand Master . His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was elected Grand Masler in the year 1 S 75 , he , therefore , has completed 21 years of service in that office . It is the hope , I am sure , of all brethien present

this night and of all brethren beneath his sway , that his Royal Highness may year by year be re-elected to the great ollice he has so worthily filled and in which he has so happily governed us . In all that becomes the duty of a Mason his Royal Highness has ever been before us—in our Grand Lodge , in our Charities , and even in our private lodges . I , therefore , Deputy Grand Master in the chair , have the greatest pleasure in seconding the proposition of Bro . Bancroft . The motion was carried unanimously .

Bio . the Eail of MOUNT EDGCUMBE : 1 shall have much pleasure in communicating ' to his Royal Highness the result of the election . ( Cheers ) . Bro . Sir ALBERT W . WOODS ( Garter ) , G . D . C , then proclaimed H . R . H . the Prince < f Wales duly elected Most Worshipful Grand Master of United Grand Ledge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England , " whom may lhe Gieat Architect of the L niverse long preserve , "

Bro . Lieut .-Col . BINDLEY , D . P . G . M . Staffs ., P . G . D . England , Grand Superintendent Staffs ., next rose and said : It was his privilege to propose Bro . William Heap Bailey , Past Prov . Senior Grand Warden of Staffordshire , for election as Grand Treasurer , who was initiated in the Royal Sussex Lodge , No . 353 , Derbyshire , in 1 S 73 , and in 1 S 74 joined the Abbey Lodge , No . 624 , Burton-on-Trent , Staffordshire , of which he is still a member

and filled the chair in 1 SS 0 . He was appointed Provincial Grand Registrar of Staffordshire in 1 SS 5 , and Provincial Senior Grand Warden in 1 S 94 . He is also a founder and the present first Master of the Fellowship Lodge , No . 2335 . and a member of the Old Concord Lodge , No . 172 , and the Anchor Lodge , No . 1704 . He is a Vice-Patron of our three Charities , having served sixteen Stewardships , and is a member of the Board of Management of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys . He ( Col . Bindley ) believed it was

unnecessary for him to go into Bro . Bailey ' s qualifications—( yes , yes)—then he apologised to the brethren for taking up so much of their time . All he could say was it was his privilege at the last Quarterly Communication to nominate Bro . Bailey , and it was now his pleasure to propose him for election as Grand Treasurer , So far as regarded Freemasonry , it would not be his pleasure or his wish to occupy the time of Grand Lodge with the recommendations of Bro . Bailey , and with these remarks he proposed Bro . B . iiley ' s election .

A ' j A ' SCI'RRAH , Vice-President Board of General Purposes , CC n u ' 1 C mot ' ' Carried unanimously amidst general applause , n TTI " moti of Bro . ROBERT GREY , President , seconded by Bro . D . «> •MERCER , S . V . P . Beard of Benevolence , the report of the Board , which and "" I by Br 0 ' E > Lttchworth , G . Sec , for lhe last quarter , was adopted , no . on the motion and seconding by the same two brethren , t ' le recommendations of grants as published in our last were rnnfirmnrl .

vr ! 3 i , e molion ° f Bro . RICHARD LOVELAND LOVELAND , President , of th n y WILLIAM ALFRED SCURRAII , Vice-President , the report was t 1 . ld of Gercral Purpose ? , as published in the Freemason last week , •taken as read , and ordered to be received and entered on the minutes , 't was then adopted . Brn . VV u 1 r ^ » , , i

- , " •' •-AMUNiiy , r . m . 902 and 1924 , next rose to movehat the Grand Lodge of England in Quarterly Communication assembled , hereb y expresses its strong disapproval of the system of canvassing and touting carried on at the annual elections , and earnestly appeals to its members to discountenance and prevent the continuance of a practice which is contrary to the principles and tenets of English . . r reemasonrv .

Grand l H t * ' ° n before Grand Lod ' he said : R « ht Worshipful f ° r abspn r '" " ^ Chair-In the first place , permit me to apologise o ! moti , "I nd Lodge in De ' cember , when I had a notice me'it hov- Cn if a £ enda dealing with this subject . The postponeof m ' otiif , - V 6 r ' v been usefu h as 't has given me an opportunity 0 r Wo en' m i V views , nanks lo the kindly counsel and advice of one o | d and dir . ^ tnren - A " e same , I should have preferred that some very imn ' , RU , shed brotr , er ° n the dais had seen his way to take up this

and - entirei 'l uestl ° n- Because I know there are many who s ) mpathise ' ' ° Re shni M ?' i ' th the ° P ' nion that 'he time has arrived when Grand c ° untenance f . ° me dccidcd ste s in tbe direction of securing the distQuting f 0 . . ? system-the pernicious system—of cmvassing and year i with littu ' r IS carricd on in the most open manner , year after able state of th" , g , lest interference . That this is an extremely undesirwings , I am sure no one present will attempt to deny , much

United Grand Lodge Of England.

less to defend , or even to palliate . In fact , to use the words of our leading Masonic journal— " The practice is now carried to such an extent as to be a public scandal , and the sooner steps are taken to put an end to it th better it will bs for the interests of Freemasonry . " Ri g' t Worshipful Sir , there are many brethren candidates for seats on our various Boards now and again , who conscientiously , and .

as I think , rightly , object to canvassing for votes . These brethren are necessarily and unfairly at a disadvantage on the occasion of a contested election . As a matter of fact , they have arrayed against them machinery that in every way is worthy of the dubious and undignified methods of a parish vestry election . But , R . W . Grand Master in the chiir , this is , after all , but a minor view of the question ; on the other hand what

we have primarily and seriously to consider is the preservation , pure and unsul ! ied , of the fair 11 ime of English Freemasonry . And it is , therefo e , with some confidence and in the profoundest sincerity that I appeal to Grand Lodge to affirm with no uncertain voice that the discreditable practice of canvassing and touting at our elections is not to be countenanced or tolerated , and that such practice must henceforth cease . I have now to move ( Bro . Lamonby here read his motion as given above ) .

Bro . the Rev . ROBERT JAMES SIMPSON , P . G . Chap .: M . W . G . M . in the Chair , —I have been asked to second this motion , and I do so with pleasure , as well as with brevity , for the mover has given ample grounds for its adoption . I cannot but feci that Grand Lodge will be of opinion th t a clear declaration of the princi ple this motion embodies will add to the dignity and importance of Freemasonry . It is obvious that itwoillbe

Utopian to lay down a haid and fast law to the effect that ro brother should express an opinion on the desirability of a particular candidate for office , or a hope that his brother Mason should support such candida'e ; bat there is a very wide difference , both in princi ple and prarice , between this course and a regular plan involving elaborate touting and systematic canvas—and looking atth's matter from a candidate ' s

standpoint , I am bound lo say I should take it as a far greater compliment to be elected , not by any organisation of my personal friends , but by the free will and unsolicited votes of my brethren . I fear the system of canvas and its often questionable accompaniments have brought some undeserved discredit upon the election to an office which was started some years ago and carried on my motion by a large majority of Grand Lodge . We voted that the

Grand Treasurership should go for election each year instead of for life— "Be just and fear not" was our motto . It surely does not follow that such a reform was unjust or inexpedient because of some of the proceedings which took place subsequently at the election to that office . The abuse of a system is no argument against its use . For if so , even Freemasonry itself must cease and determine , owing

to abuses that have crept in in foreign lands , the result , probably , of the undue pressure of a tyrrany that seeks to control the consciences and trample upon the just freedom of mankind . I sincerely trust this motion may be carried by a unanimous vote of Grand Lodge , and that such a decided and wholesome declaration of Masonic public opinion will prevent a recurrence

of proceedings which interfere with the due course of an honest election , and are inconsistent with the dignity of the candidates for office , as well as of the noble Order to which we belong . Bro . LENNOX BROWNE , P . D . G . D . C , moved as an amendment to leave out the word " English , " which Bro . Lamonby adapted .

Bro . J . S . CUMBERLAND , P . Deputy G S . B ., objected . That Grand Lodge had nothing to do with Scotch , Irish , or foreign Masonry . It had only to consider English Masonry . He was quite in sympathy with Bro . Lamonby ' s proposal , because there was certainly too much touting going on from lime to time , and the sooner it could be done away with the better . The moral suasion ol a decision of Grand Lodge .

The motion , as amended , was put and lost by an overwhelming majority , and the original motion was then put , and carried unanimously . Grand Lodge was then closed in due form .

The Recent Festival Of The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

THE RECENT FESTIVAL OF THE ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The following lists and additions to lists have been received since our report of last week .

Lodge . LONDON . I s . d . 15 Bro . Geo . VV . Todd , additional ... ... ... 1 S o ( raising his list to £ 17 6 Ss . ) 19 „ J . H . Whadcoat , additional ... ... ... 3 3 '' ( raising his list to £ 303 3 s . 6 d . ) 1159 „ Henry O . Yeatman , additional ... ... 1 1 o ( raising his list to £ 57 15 s . ) 1 O 02 „ Lieut . 1 . G . VV . lames , additional ... ... S S o

( raising his list to £ 59 17 s . ) 1706 „ N . A . Kemp , additional ... ... ... 550 ( raising his list to L 3 S 4 s . Gd . ) 1707 „ Arthur Bull , additional ... ... ... 230 ( raising his list to £ 27 3 s . ) ia 6 i „ W . Collis Clark , additional ... ... ... -1 1 o

( raising his list to ^ 105 . ) Chapter 2031 Comp . Charles Kempton ... ... ... 10 10 o ( raising his list to £ 73 10 s . ) Unattached Bro . Thos . A . Bullock , new Steward ... ... ... 10 10 o

PROVINCES . Lodge MIDDLESEX . 1415 Bro . Charles E . Cassall , additional ... ... 330 ( raising his list to £ 46 13 s . ) OXFORDSHIRE . 18 9 S Bro . Richard Ovey , additional ... ... ... 5 15 G ( raising his list to £ 22 95 . Od . ) SUSSEX .

1405 Bro . C . T . Naylor , additional ... ... ... 1 1 o ( raising his list to £ 41 r > s . 6 d . ) We have also been requested to transfer Bro . John Smith , . £ 10 10 s ., from London , Unattached , to BEDFORDSHIRE . A portion of Bro . Eversley ' s list for Lodge 10 should be allotted to the Province of Norfolk . This necessitates the transfer of those Provinces from the Absentees to the Represented Provinces , reducing the former to 15 and augmenting the latter to 31 .

It should also be noted that the list of Bro . J . H . Whadcoat , as Stew ird , fi r No . 19 , which was correctly referred to in the Analysis as amounting to £ 300—since increased , as above mentioned , to , £ 303 3 s . 61—was enoneousl y enteied among the " Stewards' Lists" for , £ 40 .