United Grand Lodge Of England.

Bro . BEACH : It means that if Grand Lodge thinks it lilting that certain brethren should be elected who are Past Masters of Colonial lodges it might be advisable to do so ; but if Grand Lodge thinks it right to exercise its option the . other way , two members instead of three , they have it in their own hand , they exercise their own judgment . ( Hear , hear . )

Bro . S . R . BASKETT , P . M . 136 7 : Most Worshipful Grand Master , do I understand that the word " shall " ( Cries of << Order , order . " ) Bro . BEACH : You are quite in order to put the question . Bro . SAMUEL R . BASKETT : Do I understand that the word

" shall " is not compulsory— " when practicable shall ? " Bro . BEACH : It does not lay it obligatory on Grand Lodge to do so if they do not so think fit . The question , " Thai thc minutes of last Quaiterly Communication be confirmed . " On the contrary , if any . The minutes were confirmed .

Bro . W . F . LAMONBY : Most Worshi pful Grand Master in the chair , I wish to intimate that I shal appeal against your decision . ( Laughter . ) Bro . BEACH : The next business is the Report of the Board of Benevolence .

The Report of the Board of Benevolence having been read b y the GRAND SECRETARY , Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON , P . G . D . ( Bro . Robert Grey having left Grand Lodge ) moved , and Bro . C . A . COTTEBRUNE , P . G . P " , Junior Vice President of the Board of Benevolence , seconded ,

the confirmation of the following recommended grants : A brother of the Waveney Lodge , No . 929 , Buneay £ 50 0 o The widow of a brother of the Crichton Lodge , No . 164 . 1 , London jo o o A brother of the Honor Oak Lodge , No . igS 6 , Upper Norwood ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Mersey Lodge , No . 477 Birkenhead 50 o o

, The widow of a brother of the Lodge of Unity , No . 183 , London ... 100 o o v A brother of the Lodge Albert Edward , No . 1429 , Newport , Mon . 100 o o The recommendations vvere confirmed .

On the motion of Bro . LOVELAND LOVELAND , President , seconded by Bro . W . A . SCURRAH , in the absence of Bro . Dr . Ernest Pocock , Vice-President , the report of the Board of General Purposes was adopted as appeared in our last issue .

On the motion of Bro . Sir GEORGE DAVID HARRIS , President , and seconded by Bro . W . A . SCURRAH , the report of the Colonial Board was taken as read , and ordered to be received and entered on the minutes .

On the motion of Bro . J . H . MATTHEWS , P . D . G . D . C , seconded by Bro . SCURRAH , the Bulwer Lodge , No . 891 , Constantinople , was ordered to be erased . Bro . WILLIAM WOODWARD , P . M . 1920 , then moved"That a Circular be issued from Grand Lodge setting forth the scheme

suggested by him , under which the Freemasons of England would contribute to the Decoration Fund of St . Paul ' s Cathedral a sum sufficient for the completion of the Cupola and Transepts , that the opinion of the Craft be ascertained through such Circular , and that such steps be taken thereafter to secure the end in view as may commend themselves to Grand Lodge . "

Bro . WOODWARD said : Most Worshipful Grand Master , ' jrand Oflicers , and Brethren , —I must apologise , Sir , for my absence on the occasion of thc last meeting of Grand Lodge , hut I assure Grand Lodge that my absence was due to an entire misunderstanding and that there was not the slightest—I am

sure you will feel with me , Most Worshipful Grand Master and brethren—not the slightest disrespect intended to Grand Lodge h y my absence . It was due entirely to a misapprehension on my part , that I vvas not in my place to support the motion on the agenda . Most Worshipful Grand Master and brethren , this

subject which is to ask the support of Freemasons for the completion of the decoration of St . Paul's Cathedral , is to my mind a subject well worthy of the consideration and the sympathies of every Freemason in England . I am quite aware , Most Worshipful Grand Master , that differences of

opinion exist as to whether that distinguished architect , Sir Christopher Wren , was ever a Grand Master , or whether or . not he founded the Lodge of Antiquity ; but I apprehend , sir , that this evening we are not concerned particularly as to whether > 'ir Christopher Wren was or was not the founder of that

magnificent lodge . We are here to assent to the proposition 'hat Sir Christopher Wren was the greatest architect that l-ngland has produced , and that he has , in erecting the structure ° f St . Paul ' s Cathedral—thc most magnificent cathedral that exists in London or in any other city in the world , not only a

magnificent one as an example of classic architecture , but thc brethren who have with me visited Rome and examined the C athedral of St . Peter ' s can come to only one conclusion as 'egards the exterior of that Cathedral of St . Peter ' s , St . Paul ' s Cathedral in London stands pre-eminently the most magnificent ,

^ s 1 say , the most magnificent Protestant cathedral in thc world . *» e know this , that for over 200 years the interior of St . Paul ' s ^ athedral has remained in its primitive state of bare stone form . We know that other citizens have decorated and furnished th ose magnificent edifices , but the Cathedral of St . Paul ' s ,

United Grand Lodge Of England.

situated in the most opulent and most distinguished city in the world , remains partly undecorated , and its bare surface of wall decoration as it was left by its architect , Sir Christopher Wren . Well , sir , the proposition that I have the honour to make to Grand Lodge is this—that I understand the sum required for the

completion of the decoration of St . Paul s under the distinguished artistic capabilities of Mr . Penrose will amount to the sum of . £ 110 , 000 . ( " Oh , oh , " and hear , hear . ) We know that the chancel has already been decorated at the suggestion and expense of those benevolent individuals who support the

magnificent Cathedral . The estimate I have formed of the sum required to defray the expenses of the cupola and transepts which I propose that Freemasons should subscribe is a sum of about £ ^ 0 , 000 . My suggestion , sir , is this—that without infringing in the slightest degree upon the Charities which we all

desire to support in Freemasonry—I apprehend , sir , that the ) are the Charities we should one and all support in the first in stance—yet I believe , sir , from what I have gathered from

Freemasons in general , that there will not be the slightest diminution of the contributions to the Charities if we support this magnificent project , which , I believe , will enhance Freemasonry in the eves of the world .

Bro . Sir ALBERT W . WOODS , G . D . C : Will you address the Grand Master ?

Bro . WOODWARD : I do not propose to expend money on general decorations , but to concentrate our efforts on the transepts and cupola , and no one Bro . Sir ALBERT WOOD : You must address the Grand Master in the chair .

Bro . WOODWARD : What I suggest is this , that'we should send out a circular inviting the opinion of Freemasons in general as to the advisability of the identification of Freemasonry with this grand project . I believe , Most Worshipful Grand Master in the chair , that if we send out some circular , thc more I learn

the more I gather the appreciation of Freemasons . I believe if will receive the assent and the strong support of Freemasons in general . Whether that be so or no , I do sincerely hope ( jrand Lodge will support me in this preliminary attempt—that I think Freemasons will aid the decoration of that edifice which is a

national edifice ; it is distinguished from all other edifices by being a national edifice . I do , Most Worshipful Grand Master in the chair , move—you will excuse me for having in making my observations omitted that reference to your Worshipful self which in the course of my observations I momentarily

forgot—( hear , hear)—Most Worshipful Grand Master in the chair , I would ask Grand Lodge to agree to a circular being sent to ever } lodge in England asking the support of Freemasons in general

to this decoration of St . Paul s Cathedral , which is a national work , and which I am sure , Most Worshipful Grand Master in thc chair , will redound to the honour of Freemasonry in general and of Grand Lodge of England in particular .

Bro . HERBERT T . STEWARD , G . Supt . of Works . Most Worship ful Grand Master in the chair , —I rise to second the proposition which I think cannot fail to receive from lodges in all parts of the United Kingdom a definite opinion on the points

which have been placed before Grand Lodge to-night by Bro , Woodward . I believe that the advantages of the proposition are so great lhat if it is supported bv the lodges generally in England , it will undoubtedly encourage Freemasonry and for ever redound to the credit of our Craft .

Bro . BEACH : Brethren , it has been proposed and seconded that circulars be sent to lodges with a view to invite them to contribute to the decoration of St . Paul's Cathedral . Bro . the Rev . R . J . SlMPSON : Most Worshipful Grand Master in the chair , —I should wish , by the permission of this Giand

Lodge , to propose an amendment to Bro . Woodward ' s proposition , and perhaps I had better at once read that amendment , because it will curtail the very few remarks I have to make"That , whilst sympathising with the beautiful work of decoration

which is being carried on in St . Paul's Cathedral , this Grand Lodge does not feel it expedient to vote a sum from its funds for such a purpose , however excellent in itself , and thinks that it should be taken up by Masons in their individual capacity as more appropriate . "

Bro . PHILBRICK , G , Reg .: Most Worshipful Grand Master , — I think our distinguished brother can hardly have read or appreciated the motion . It is not directed to the funds of Grand Lodge , but to individual subscriptions from brother Masons privately . ( Hear , hear . )

Bro . the Rev . R . J . SIMPSON : I daresay it will be in your recollection , sir , and in the recollection of several of our brother Masons here , that several years ago , on the . return of lhe Prince

of Wales , our Grand Master , from India , a sum of money was voted to do something as a memorial of that occasion , and a similar proposition to that now made by Bro . Woodward was made by an illustrious Freemason , who , perhaps , had the ear of