United Grand Lodge.

( Cries of " Question . " ) He now supported the proposition for the adjournment of the confirmation of the minutes simply on the ground that as the alterations were important a great deliberative assembly like Grand Lodge should not be called upon to give further consideration hastily or without the fullest deliberation . Time ought to be afforded to every man of intelligence to settle the laws of the Order which were to bind them for many years .

With regard to the remark that they were casting a slur on the Board of General Purposes , he begged to say that the revision of the Constitutions had been what he might call , for want of a better term , the joint work of the Board of General Purposes , acting with and for and on behalf of the Grand Lodge . They had given the Craft certain notions and certain suggestions ,

and had called on the Craft to concur with or refuse certain propositions . He hoped the Board of General Purposes would receive the loyal support and co-operation of Grand Lodge , and that there would never be any difference on this question , or jealously or rivalry between the Board of General Purposes and the Grand Lodge . Bro . Matthews

had referred to distant District Grand Lodges , and hoped that , on their account , a postponement would be allowed . He supported that appeal . Let them wait to hear what was the opinion of the colonial brethren . If they could not get it by December let them further postpone the consideration till March or April ; do anything rather than run the risk of imperiling the best interests of Freemasonry by hastening the settlement of the Book of Constitutions . He hoped there were some brethren there over whom he had not lost the influence he once

possessed , and he asked them to give a fair consideration of this question . They might do mischief by considering it now . They could not do wrong by deferring it . Surely they were not so wound up to their own metropolitan or provincial wisdom that they could not have some consideration for the wisdom of their fellow Masons at a distance , who were as much the subjects of the Grand Master and members of Grand Lodge as themselves . ( Hear , hear . )

Bro . Sir J B . MONCKTON rose merely lo say that the Board of General Purposes . had no feeling whatever in the matter one way or the other . If it seemed reasonable to Grand Lodge that the confirmation should be postponed , the Board of General Purposes should , through him , by all means postpone it . ( Hear , hear . )

Bro . J HAVERS , P . G . W ., advised the brethren not to be in a hurry . There was no good to be got by hurrying , and if it was necessary , let the consideration of these alterations stand over for months . ( Hear , hear , and cries of No , no , and considerable confusion . ) Bro . RAYMUND H . THRUPP said there were 500 colonial lodges that would look with much interest for a report of these proceedings , and he hoped that Grand Lodge would wait for some months before proceeding to settle those alterations . ( Hear , hear . )

General BROWNRIGG thought it was useless to continue the discussion any longer , and therefore put Bro . Matthews ' s amendment , and declared that the ayes had it . There were loud cries for a division , but General Brownrigg said he had given his decision .

Bro . LE FEUVRE , Prov . Grand Secretary Hants and Isle of Wight , drew General Brownrigg ' s attention to Section 9 , page 28 , of the Book of Constitutions , which stated ' * that if two members demand that the votes be counted , brethren in favour of the motion shall pass to one side of the Grand

Lodge , and those against it to the other when they shall be counted b y the G . Deacons , the mover and seconder of the motion , and two of its opponents . " General BROWNRIGG : Yes ; but if you read the last line of the clause you will see it adds " provided such demand appear reasonable to the Grand Master ; " and I do not consider it reasonable . ( Laughter . )

The following recommendations of the Lodge of Benevolence for the last quarter were then moved , seconded , and carried : The widow of a brother of the Cornubian Lodge , No . 450 , Hayle , Cornwall £ 100 o o The widow of a brother of the Skelmersdale Lodge , No . 165 S , Camberwell 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Royal Clarence Lodge , No . 271 ,

Brighton , 50 o o A brother of the De Grey and Ripbn Lodge , No . 837 , Ripon , Yorkshire 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Lodge of Truth , No . 944 , Bombay 50 o o A brother of another Lodge 50 o o A brother of the Beadon Lodge , No . 610 , Duhvich , 50 o o

A brother of the Merchant Navy Lodge , No . 781 , London , P . G . P . 150 o o The following report of the Board of General Purposes was taken as read , and was received and ordered to be entered on the minutes : " To the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England . " The Board of General Purposes beg to submit a statement of the Grand Lodge

accounts at the meeting ot the finance Committee , held on Priday , the 17 th day of August instant , shewing a balance in the Bank of England of £ 4165 15 s . id . ; and in the hands of the Grand Secretary for petty cash £ 75 , and for servants wages ^ 100 . ( Signed ) "J OHN B . MONCKTON , President . "Freemason ' s Hall , London , W . C , 21 st August , 1883 . "

The report of the Special Building Committee , which we printed in extenso in last week's Freemason , was brought up by Sir J B . MONCKTON , Chairman of the Committee , who said that to put the Committee exactly in their right place , that it was not his intention to go so far as to move that the report be agreed to , because he did not think that the reference to the Committee went the length of it . They wore directed

to consider the question of reinstating , or enlarging , or removing the old Masonic Temple recently destroyed by fire , and to obtain and submit to Grand Lodge plans and estimates for the same , and to deposit such plans and estimates in the Grand Secretary ' s office or other convenient place for the inspection of the Craft . They looked upon it that their appointment , which was of a double character—four of their number being appointed b y Grand Lodge , and four by the Board of General Purposes—conferred on

them a Stewardship for the time being . They were not instructed to become advocates for this or that course of action , " but they considered that they were to exhaust enquiries as fully as possible , and to report to Grand Lodge ampl y and fully . He did not know that any one of the brethren who signed the report was to be considered by having signed it to have pledged his own personal opinion either to the question of reinstatement , enlargement , or removal . He and they thought , and Grand Lodge would

no doubt agree with them , that they were to bring the result of their enquiries before Grand Lodge and leave it | ° Grand Lodge to do what it pleased with those figures and those , fcts- Going very shortly into them he would suggest that the first thing it h ^ ^ ^ ° was t 0 £ m lne ' nsurance money . That they did , and they did 1 he thoug htand hoped satisfactorily . They were well and carefully advised tfi ' r ^* ^ * Superintendent of Works , and having very practical men on ne Committee he the more thought the settlement was satisfactory . The "surance officer treated them with thorough liberality . Dwelling on the

United Grand Lodge.

I other parts of the report and coming to the question of removal they did their best to make enquiries of practical men and they came to the conclusion that removal to the Thames Embankment , which was the only other site to be entertained for a moment , was out of the question . Drawing upon his memory the site on the Embankment would cost ^ 100 , 000 . This Grand Lodge could not afford . All this had been set out in the report . Thev then

came to the question of enlarging and rebuilding the Temple . They went to Mr . Bacon and Messrs . Spiers and Pond , the lessees and tenants of Grand Lodge and thoroughly explained the position to them , and they were informed that any information they might give or terms offer were only to enable the Committee to form a report , and would in no wav nreinrKr-p

them . Those gentlemen met the Committee in a very fair and candid spirit . The affair was not arranged at one meeting , for there was a good deal of pro-ing and con-ing in the matter . When the matter was last before Grand Lodge he stated that he believed the cost of the rebuilding to Grand Lodge would be about £ 500 a year . He did not think that from the figures now

presented that estimate would be considered unreasonable . It came to a large sum no doubt ; but all these matters involved expense . The plan had been placed in the library of Grand Lodge , and the estimates , as far as they went , might be looked upon as ample as could conveniently be prepared . It would have been out of the question to set builders' estimates and details .

If they had , Grand Lodge would have said they had gone beyond their powers . The figures were the result of the taking out in quantities , arid were not guess work . He now merel y moved that the report be received and entered on the minutes as a part of the proceedings of Grand Lodge , and he thought it would be well that they then and there left it for Grand Lodge to take up or put down , or receive or reiect .

Bro . RAYNHAM W . STEWART , as one of the Committee , seconded the motion .

Bro . G . P . BRITTEN , P . M ., moved that as the brethren had notiseenthe plans , the adoption of the report should be deferred till the next meeting . General BROWNRIGG thought discussion should be avoided as it was merely moved and . seconded that the report be received and entered on the

minutes . Bro . JOHN HAVBRS ventured to think that if nothing more were done than was conveyed in their motion Grand Lodge would practicall y have done nothing . It seemed that the Board were not prepared to go further . Now , he thought it was hardl y fair to start a hare , and then say " do nothing . " He was surprised at the very bald proposal that had been made . The Board should have come to a definite proposition , and not to put before Grand Lodge a proposition so strange .

Bro . BINCKES rose to order . The motion was that the report be received and entered on the minutes . The discussion could not go on on that motion . Bro . HAVERS submitted , and the motion that the report be received and entered on the minutes was carried .

Bro . BINCKES moved , and Dr . R * MSAY seconded , a vote of thanks to the Committee for their report . The vote was carried unanimously . Bro . H . MAUDSLAY , P . G . D ., enquired whether the Committee had directed their attention to the purchase of property to the west of the old lemple ? All the information seemed to refer to the property eastward of Freemasons' Tavern .

Bro . J AMES STEVENS wished to know whether the documents in Grand Secretary ' s office were limited merely to the plans that referred to the absolute report which Grand Lodge had before it , or whether there were any alternative plans differing from the plans the Committee had laid before Grand Lodge . He begged to be allowed to express the opinion that Grand Lodge ought not to be limited to one plan , or to any number as long as they could succeed in obtaining a diversity of opinion and ideas to be

submitted to the Craft in order that they might be able to select what would be best for the purposes of the Order . With that view he begged to suggest that prises should be offered for first , second , or third plans to be provided by brethren of the Craft who were architects , and who were willing to enter into competition . Judiciously advertised before the Craft , no doubt a series of designs could be obtained which would be gratifying to the brethren and would enable the Cralt to have a building worthy of its great name and influence .

Bro . Gen . BROWNRIGG suggested that Bro . Stevens should give notice of this as a motion . Bro . STEVENS said he would g ive notice for next meeting . Bro . Sir J . B . MONCKTON said the plans were not doubled , or trebled , or quadrupled ; they simply referred to the recommendations contained in the report . They were prepared by the Grand Superintendent of Works , and the Committee did not think thev were iustified in crnino- tn nnv nn » »!» .

The Grand Superintendent of Works was an official of Grand Lodge , and he prepared the plans and estimates at the special request of the Committee without any idea that suggestions of commissions would be placed in his hands . The Grand Superintendent of Works thought also that while he held his office he was bound to prepare these plans , and he did so to the best of his ability , and without any payment for his services . Bro . STEVENS said he did not object to the plans .

Bro . RAYNHAM W . STEWART said it was impossible for the Committee to proceed further until Grand Lod ge gave them permission , because if Grand Lodge made up their minds to go to some one else it would be perfectly useless to ask lor plans . They must take the decision of Grand Lodge whether they would adopt the proposition of the Commiitpp nr nr , r _

If they did , then it would be the bounden duty of the Committee to get those plans and let them be inspected by every brother , and every brother would have an opportunity of making a motion upon it . Bro . J AMES LEWIS THOMAS thanked the brethren for passing a vote of thanks to the Committee . ES

DM J- IN ' ^? 'i 11211 P roPosed " That the consideration of the report of the Building Committee as now received and entered on the minutes be adjourned lor consideration till the Quarterly Communication in December next . Dr . RAMSAY seconded the motion , which was then put and carried . Bro . CHARLES J PERCEVAL , P . M . No . 1607 , moved " That notice shall be given of the intended meet ' inus of all Grand LodVes . * n . ; , \

pr otherwise , by advertisement , at least once , and , when practicable , twice , before such day of meeting in the two Masonic issues , and such other paper or papers , not exceeding three , as the Grand Secretary may deem best adaoted for giving publicity thereto . " v Bro . Perceval was understood to support his motion by the argument tV t ,

the present mode ot giving notice was unsatisfactory , but he was very ; distinctly heard on account of the great noise which prevailed by breth > leaving Grand Lodge , and the talking aloud of those who remained . Bro . ABNER TORKINGTON seconded the motion , which was put and 1 s , a midst laughter . Grand Lodge was then closed in form and adjourned .