United Grand Lodge.

Concordia , No . 1226 , Cairo , Egypt , showing that gross irregularities were taking place therein , while counter charges against the members have also been made by the W . Master . In November , 1887 , tbe Colonial Board found it necessary to suspend the W . M . from his functions for the remainder of his term of office , but there being no * other member qualified for the chair , the same brother again became Master for-the ensuing year and has still continued in that position .

Since then , further reports of irregularities as to the proceedings generally , and also as to their finances , have been made to the Board , who thereon requested the present Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of England in Egypt , Bro . Raphael Borg , formerly Deputy District Grand Master under England , and subsequently Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Egypt , to fully investigate the various complaints received from the lodge , and to report thereon to the Board .

His report , dated the 15 th January last , discloses such a lamentable state of affairs in the lodge as to general mismanagement , continual irregularities , quarrels , and recriminations amongst the members , together with non-payment of fees and improper expenditure of its funds , that the Colonial Board have arrived at the conclusion that it is impossible for the lodge to continue as a Masonic body , and they , therefore , have to recommend that it be erased from the roll of lodges of the Grand Lodge of England .

The Board have to add that on the 15 th February they wrote to the W . Master informing him of their intention to recommend the erasure of the lodge , and stating that any answer it might have to make to the charge must arrive in London before the 15 th April ; further , that the lodge was to cease work , and to forthwith transmit its warrant to the Grand Secretary . Although this letter was handed

personally to the W . Master on the 7 th March last by Bro . Borg , no reply has been received up to this date , nor has the warrant been returned . ( Signed ) G . HALDANE , P . G . S . B ., Chairman . Freemasons' Hall , London , 6 th May , 1890 .

The Annual Report of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , dated the 16 th May , 18 90 , including the following alterations in the laws , was laid before Grand Lodge , and adopted . Rule 37 . —To add , after the words " him or her on the list of annuitants , " " if in their opinion efforts have been made to secure his or her election . " QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE MALE FUND .

Rule 1 . —Strike out after " Master Mason " in the third line "for 15 years , " and alter in the fourth line " at least 10 " to " 15 , " and take out the words " of that period , " and after the words "shall be" in the fifth line , alter the words following to " certified by two medical men as suffering from blindness , paralysis , or other affliction which in the opinion of the Committee , " alter the word " party " in the ninth line to " candidate , " and in the last line but one change " at least 10 " to " 15 . " Rule 2 . —Alter £ 40 to ^ 32 .

Rule 3 . —Add at end of Clause " A candidate having been a Life Governor for five years at the time of presenting his petition shall be entitled to 20 votes at each election until successful , for each Governorship he may have qualified before his petition was accepted ; but after his election all future rights to such added votes shall cease . "

Rule 7 . —Alter £ 40 to £ 32 . Rule 9 . —In second line alter " five " to " seven , " in fifth line alter " she shall be " to " she may be , " in seventh line alter " three years " to " five years , " and in the last line but one , after the word " residence , " substitute for all that follows " subject to the approval of the House Committee . "

QUALIFICATIONS FOR WIDOWS' FUND . Rule 1 . —Omit the whole and substitute the following-. — "No widow shall be eligible under the age af 60 years , nor unless her last husband was qualified in accordance with Rule 1 , Stale Fund . She must have been married to him for at least seven years , and if the widow of an annuitant , the marriage must have taken place at least five years previously to the presentation of her husband ' s petition—subject

to these qualifications , a widow shall be eligible to be accepted as a candidate at an earlier age if suffering from blindness , paralysis , or other affliction , certified b y two medical men , which in the opinion of the Committee shall permanently incapacitate her from earning a livelihood . " Rule 3 . —Alter in fourth and seventh lines the word "late" to " last . "

At end of Rule 3 . —Add : A candidate having been a Life Governor for five years at the time of presenting her petition , shall be entitled to 20 votes at each election until successful , for each Governorship she may have qualified before her petition was accepted ; but after her election all further right to such added votes shall cease . "

Bro . J ALBERT FARNFIELD , P . A . G . D . of C , moved—That the sum of £ 70 be given from the Fund of General Purposes •that the money be placed in the hands of the Secretary of the " Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , " to supply the inmates of the Asylum at Croydon with coals during the winter season . The motion was carried .

On the motion of Bro . RICHARD EVE , Bro . John Smith was elected Grand Lodge Auditor . Grand Lodge was then closed , the ACTING GRAND MASTER stating that , as the Scrutineers of votes had not concluded their labours , he would retire to the Grand Master ' s room , and await the result .

The following brethren were elected members of the Board of General Purposes : Bros . E . C . Mulvey , Geo . Read , W . A . Scurrah , J . Aird , M . P ., J , Barnett , jun ., S . Cochrane , C . E . Keyser , T . Hastings Miller , Hy . Pritchard , Capt , T . C . Walls , F . E . Pocock , M . D ., Lennox Browne , Geo . Gardner , and T . D . Bear .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cumberland And Westmorland.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND .

The half-yearly meeting of the above Prov . Grand Lodge was held at the Green Dragon Hotel , Workington , on Friday , the 30 th ult ., when there was a good muster of members from the various lodges in the province , as well as visitors from a distance . In the absence of the P . G . M ., Bro . Col . F . R . Sewell , P . M . 1002 , P . P . S . G . W ., presided , supported by the officers of the year . The Prov . Grand Lodge was opened , and the minutes read and confirmed , and

Bro . G . J . McKay , P . M . 129 , P . G . Sec , read a statement of accounts in the absence of the P . G . Treas ., which showed a good balance to the credit of the province , also the Charity Committee ' s report , which showed a recommendation from the province of 100 guineas to the Centenary Fund for the R . M . L for Girls . Ten guineas to Bro . Collin ' s Stewardship to the R . M . B . I . ' s next Festival , and five guineas to widow S . On the motion of Bro . Kirkbride , P . M . 339 , P . P . S . G . W . as D . P . G . M ., seconded by Bro . Paterson , P . M . 9 62 , P . J . G . W ., the report was

unanimously adopted . Bro . John Mills , P . M . 1390 , P . P . S . G . D ., gave notice of motion that a Provincial Educational Scheme be adopted for the province . Bro . Wm . Kirkbride , acting D . P . G . M ., moved as a recommendation that the next annual Provincial Grand Lodge be held at Penrith , under the banner of the Unanimity Lodge , No . 339 . Bro . G . W . Kenworthy , P . M . 119 , P . P . S . G . W ., supported the motion , and it was agreed to . With other general business appertaining to the province , Provincial Grand Lodge was closed ,

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Gloucestershire.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE .

The Annual Grand Festival of the Provincial Grand Lod ge of Gloucestershire was held on Tuesday , in the Chapter House of Gloucester Cathedral , the Dean of Gloucester ( Dr . Spencer ) , who himself received the compliment of appointment as Provincial Grand Chaplain , giving his permission for the use of this interestinomeeting-place under the special circumstances of the day ' s proceedings .

Provincial Grand Lodge was summoned at 2 p . m ., and when proceedings commenced , shortly after that hour , there was an unusuall y numerous attendance of the brethren of the province . Those present included the Ri ght Hon . Sir Michael Hicks-Beach , Bart ., M . P ., Provincial Grand Master ; Bro . R . V . Vassar-Smith , D . Prov . G . M . ; and a large number of Present and Past Officers of Prov . G . Lodge .

Prov . Grand Lodge having been duly opened , the Prov . G . M . at once invested the Dean of Gloucester as Prov . G . Chaplain . A procession from the Chapter House along the cloisters to the Cathedral was then formed , and to the strains of the March from " Eli , " the brethren moved forward to the choir , where ample accommodation had been reserved for them . Divine service was conducted , in the presence of a large congregation of the general public , in accordance with a special form , which was supplied to the brethren

on entering the Cathedral . The service was sung to Garrett in F , the anthem being Wesley ' s " Blessed be God , " which was very effectively rendered . Bro . the Dean of Gloucester , who wore the collar of Prov . G . Chap ., preached the sermon which we regret we have ' not space for . A collection was taken on behalf of the Cathedral Fund , and , the service concluded , the brethren returned to the Chapter House in the same order of procession as before for the resumption of the business of Prov . Grand Lodge .

The Prov . Grand Treasurer ( Bro . T . NELSON FOSTER ) presented his annual report , which showed a balance of £ 115 in hand ; and its adoption was proposed by Bro . FOSTER , seconded by Bro . PORCHER , and carried . A special report was then made by the P . G . Treasurer as to the reredos account . It appeared from this that Messrs . Clayton and Bell ' s contract for the decoration of the reredos had amounted to . £ 300 , of which / 139 was still unsubscribed .

The Provincial Grand Master proposed a contribution of . £ 50 from the funds of the Prov . Grand Lodge , which was carried unanimously . The D . P . G . M ., as Charity Secretary to the province , read the annual report of the Charity Committee , which was received and adopted . Bro . Nelson Foster was re-elected P . G . Treasurer , on the motion of the D . P . G . M ., and Bro . Phillips was elected P . G . Tyler , on the motion of Bros . LAWRENCE and FERRIS .

The P . G . TREASURER proposed a vote of 10 guineas to the Masonic Charities , which was seconded by Bro . FELTON , and carried . The appointment and investiture of officers for the ensuing year were made b y the Prov . Grand Master as follows : —

Bro . J . Bryan , P . M . 8 39 , P . Prov . J . G . D . ... ... Prov . S . G . W . „ W . Forth , P . M . 246 , P . Prov . G . Reg . ... ... Prov . J . G . W . „ Very Rev . Dr . Spence , Dean of Gloucester , 8-fg ,.. )„ „ „ , „ Rev ! P . Hattersley-Smith , P . M . 82 ... J Prov . G . Chaps . .. T . A . Matthews . P . M . 401 . P . Prov . S . G . W . ... Prov . G .

Rpo-„ T . Nelson Foster , P . M . 839 , P . Prov . S . G . W . ... Prov . G . Treas . „ Jas . B . Winterbotham , P . M . 82 , P . Prov . S . G . W . ... Prov . G . Sec . „ E . L . Baylis , P . M . 82 ... ... ... Prov . S . G . D . „ C . Sewell , P . M . 592 ... ... ... ... Prov . J . G . D . „ W . Heath , W . M . 855 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . of W .

„ A . Baker , W . M . ... ... ... ... Prov . G . D . of C . „ W . G . Roberts , P . M . 1067 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ T . Blinkhorn , I . P . M . 1005 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ W . Edwards , I . P . M . 403 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br .

„ L . M . Weston , I . P . M . 13 62 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br . „ C . Lee Williams , 839 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ J . David , I . P . M . 702 ... ... ,.. ... Prov . G . Purst . „ W . Gardner ... ... ... ... 1

„ A . Booth ... ... ... ... ... £ Prov . G . Stwds . ,, R . F . Pomeroy ... ... ... ... ) „ H . Phillips ... ... ... ... Prov . G . T yler . Provincial Grand Lodge was then closed , and the brethren adjourned to the Bell Hotel , where nearly 150 sat down to banquet .

Provincial Grand Chapter Of Cumberland And Westmorland.

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHAPTER OF CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND .

The annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Chapter was held at the Green Dragon Hotel , Workington , on Friday , the 30 th ult ., when , in the absence of the chief of the province , Comp . Col . Sewell , P . Z . 371 , P . P . G . H ., presided , supported by the following companions as his officers , viz . : Comps . Geo . Dalrymple , P . Z . 1 ig , P . P . G . H ., as P . G . H . ; Jas . Gardiner , P . Z . 371 ,

P . G . J . ; Geo . J . McKay , P . Z . 129 , P . G . S . E . ; Chas . Gowan , Z . 119 , P . G . P . S . ; Thos . Atkinson , P . Z . ug , as P . G . S . N . ; W . S . Ponton , J . 327 , and J . Eden , Stwds . ; H . Cook , P . Z . 1021 ; G . W . Kenworthy , P . Z . 119 , P . P . G . J . ; Charles P . Richards , P . Z . 1021 , 1225 , P . P . G . S . of W . ; W . L . J . Murray , Z . 1021 ; W . Roberts , J . ; T . Booth , H . 1021 ; T . Sutton , P . Z . 1225 ; and many others who were present at the consecration of the Sun and Sector Chapter , No . 9 62 , the same day .

The Prov . Grand Chapter was opened , and the minutes of the former meeting , held at Carlisle , confirmed . The dues and fees of honour were paid , and in the absence of the Prov . G . Treasurer , Comp . McKay read a statement of accounts , which showed that Royal Arch Masonry was flourishing in the province , and the following companions were invested Prov . G . Officers for the year :

Comp . H . Cook , P . Z . 1021 ... ... ... Prov . G . H . „ J . Paterson , P . Z . 119 ... ... ... Prov . G . J . „ Geo . J . McKay , P . Z . 129 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . E . „ Chas . J . Nanson , P . Z . 310 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . N . „ R . J . Nelson , P . Z . 129 ... ... ... Prov . G . Treas .

„ J . Hall , Z . 1073 ... •••- - Prov . G . Reg . „ Rev . J . N . Hoare , J . 10 73 ... ... ... Prov . G . P . S . „ D . Reece , H . 9 62 ... ... ... Prov . ist A . G . S . „ W . S . Ponton , 327 ... ... ... Prov . 2 nd A . G . S . „ W . C . Johns , H . 119 ... ... ... Prov . G . S . B . „ Thos . Brakenridge , J . 119 ... ... ... Prov . G . Std . Br .

„ E . J . Mitchell , H . 371 ... ... ... Prov . G . D . C . „ J , Bewley , P . Z . 310 ... ... ... Prov . A . G . D . C . „ Jas . Dickinson , 371 ... ... ... Prov . G . Org . „ J . Abbott , 371 ... ... ... ... *) „ J . Wood , 9 62 ... ... ... ... J- Prov . G . Stwds . „ E . Loach , 9 62 ... ... ... ... ) „ Thos . Usher , 1073 ... ... ... Prov . G . Janitor . With "Hearty good wishes , " and other routine business , the chapter was closed .