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WE give elsewhere a " precis" of a most interesting meeting of that most valuable charity , the Sea Bathing Infirmary , to which we wish all success , feeling sure that the simple statement therein contained will redound more to the credit of our esteemed Bro . Sir ERASMUS WILSON , our worthy Grand Treasurer , and all concerned , not forgetting the architect , Mr . KNOWLES , than any inflated eulogium or laboured panegyric .

* ALL of our readers will be glad to see that the Archbishop of C ANTERBURY is , it is fervently hoped , rallying from his severe illness and alarming attack . As Canon ROWSWELL said at Westminster Abbey , he is emphatically a "large-hearted man , " and typifies in some remarkable characteristic the tolerant and sympathetic principles of English Freemasonry .

* * OWING to the unavoidable absence of our Royal brother , the Duke of ALBANY , through serious indisposition , from the Preston Guild Ceremonial , H . R . H . the Duke of CAMBRIDGE , at a moment ' s notice , like a good soldier .

at the Q UEEN ' S request , undertook to be present , and received , as he deserved , a most hearty reception from loyal Lancashire . He is the guest of our distinguished Bro . the Earl of LATHOM , Deputy Grand Master .

* * WE call attention elsewhere to a circular emanating from the Grand Secretary's office , relative to the Royal College of of Music .

United Grand Lodge.

UNITED GRAND LODGE .

A Ouarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge of England was held at Freemasons' Hall , on Wednesday , the 6 th inst ., at 7 p . m ., Bro . Gen . J . S . Brownrigg , P . G . M . Surrey , as M . W . G . M . in the chair . The following were present : Bros . Gen . J . S . Brownrigg , Acting G . M . ; S . Rawson , Acting D . G . M . ; the Right Hon . the Lord Mayor ( J . Whittaker Ellis ) , J . G . W . ; Rev . T . Cochrane , G . Chap . ;

Rev . T . Robinson , G . Chap . ; Col . Creaton , G . Treas . ; Col . Shadwell H . Clerke , G . Sec ; Ernest Emil Wendt , G . Sec . German Correspondence ; Major John Penrice , S . G . D . ; R . C . Else , J . G . D . ; Horace Jones ( City Architect ) , G . Supt . of Works ; Sir Albert W . Woods , G . Dir . of Cer . ; David smith , Asst . G . Dir . of Cer . ; John Messent , G . Swd . Br . ; E . F . Littell , Asst . G . Purst . ; H . G . Buss , Asst . G . Sec ; H . S . Alpass , G . Std . Br . ; the Hon . Mr . Justice Prinsep , D . G . M . Bengal ; Rev . R . J .

Simpson , P . G . C . ; Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , P . G . C . ; Rev . J . Sedgwick , P . G . C . ; Rev . C . J . Martyn , P . G . C . ; Rev . T . W . Hayes , P . G . C . ; Rev . Ambrose W . Hall , P . G . C ; Thos . Fenn , P . G . D . ; Robert Grey , P . G . D . ; C . A . Murton , P . G . D . ; Raphael Costa , P . G . D . ; C . W . C . Hutton , P . G . D . ; John A . Rucker , P . G D . ; Capt . N . G . Philips , P . G . D . ; J . Glaisher , P . G . D . ; W . E . Gumbleton , P . G . D . ; JabezHogg , P . G . D . ; J . M . Clabon , P . G . D . ; H . Maudsley , P . G . D . ; M . Case , P . G . D . ; John S . Peirce , P . G . D . ; J . H .

Scott , P . G . D . ; W . A . F . Powell , P . G . D . ; Raynham W . Stewart , P . G . D . ; Fred . P . Morrell , P . G . D . ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D . ; Lieut .-Ccl . H . S . Somerville-Burney , P . G . D . ; H . J . P . Dumas , P . G . D . ; Brackstone Baker , P . G . D . ; J . C . Parkinson , P . G . D . ; James Lewis Thomas , F . S . A ., P . Asst . G . D . of C . ; Magnus Ohren , P . Asst . G . D . of C ; Joshua Nunn , P . G . S . B . ; C . Greenwood , P . G . S . B . ; George Lambert , P . G . S . B . ; W . Clarke , P . G . Purst . ; C . A . Cottebrune , P . G . Purst . ; H . Massey ( Freemason ); and many other Masters , Past Masters , and Wardens of Craft lodges .

The GRAND S ECRETARY read the minutes of the Quarterly Communication , held 7 th June last , except so far as related to the balance of a grant of ^ 75 to Bro . James Hargrave Jones , of the Whittington Lodge , No . 862 , London , which had lapsed in consequence of the death of that brother on the 7 th July last , he having been paid £ 50 on account of such recommended grant , pursuant to the Constitutions , Art . 16 , p . 104 ; and the acting Grand Master having put them to the Grand Lodge for

confirmation—Bro . JAMES STEVENS said that he rose with some diffidence , before the confirmation of the minutes , to raise a question of order and privileges . The ACTING G RAND MASTER said that he would interrupt Bro . Stevens for a moment , assuming that the object of the speaker was to bring forward

the question of Bro . Stevens ' s proposed motion , which had not been passed by the Board of Masters , and was consequently omitted from the agenda paper . He ( the Acting Grand Master ) held in his hand a memorandum which the Grand Secretary had received from the Pro Grand Master , which he would read :

Memorandum—Bro . James Stevens ' s notice of motion , dated 26 th July , 1882 , has been duly laid before me by the Grand Secretary , and having carefully considered its purport , I am clearly of opinion that the motion is one which cannot be placed on the agenda paper for Grand Lodge , inasmuch as it might lead to interference and an encroachment upon the undoubted prerogative of the Grand Master and his freedom of action , as set forth in the Constitutions of the Order . ( Signed ) CARNARVON .

Under these circumstances the acting Grand Master said he could not do otherwise than stop any further discussion on the subject . The minutes were then confirmed with the exception above referred to . Report of the Lodge of Benevolence for the last quarter , in which are recommendations for the following grants , was read and confirmed .

A brother of the Lodge of United Good Fellowship , No . S 09 , Wisbech ... £ 50 o o A brother of the Blair Lodge , No . S 15 , Hulme , Manchester ... ... 50 o- o The widow of a brother of the West Middlesex Lodge , No . 1612 , Ealing Co o o The widow of a brother of the Otago Lodge , No . S 44 , Dunedin , Otago , New Zealand ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 75 o o A brother of the Jordan Lodge , No . 201 , London ... ... ... 100 o o

A brother of the Royal St . Edmunds Lodge , No . 1008 , Bury St . Edmunds 50 o o A brother of the Lodge of the Three Grand Principles , No . 441 , Cambridge 50 o o A brother of the Temple Lodge No . 1094 , Liverpool ... ... ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Lodjje of Lights , No . 148 , Warrington ... 100 0 o A brother of the Pleiades Lodge , No . 710 , Totnes ... ... ... 50 o o A brother of the Welchpool Lodge , No . 998 , Welchpool ... ... 150 o o

United Grand Lodge.

Before the confirmation of the last grant recommended in the above list , Bro . J OSHUA NUNN , as President of the Lod ge of Benevolence , said that the Grand Lodge had received a number of letters in reference to this grant , but that , after inquiry , it was found that the letters in question

referred to matters which happened twenty years ago , since which time Bro . T . B . Brown had been honoured by hislodge having invited him to perform the installation ceremony for them , and had been a very influential member of the Craft since the time referred to , besides having done a great deal for the Masonic Institutions .

Grand Lodge having heard this statement , confirmed the grant of £ 150 to Bro . Brown . Bro . THOS . FENN , P . G . D ., said that , in the absence of the President and Vice-President of the Board of General Purposes , he begged to propose that the report of the Board of General Purposes be taken as read . The terms of the report were as follows :

" REPORT OF THE BOARD OF GENERAL PURPOSES . " To the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England . "Grand Lodge having at its last Quarterly Communication accepted the the draft of the proposed revision of the Book of Constitutions , as prepared

by the Board , and having approved of its suggestion that the same be considered at a special Grand Lodge , and that in the meantime copies be circulated amongst the provinces for the information of the Craft , which has accordingly been done , the Board now beg to recommend that brethren

desiring to propose any amendments or additions to the said revision of the Constitutions should be required to transmit the same to the Grand Secretary on or before the 25 th September next , in order that they may be considered and reported on by the Board before the meeting of the Special Grand Lodge , which , it is believed , will be held about the middle of October next .

" Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , " 15 th August , 1882 . ( Signed ) " FRANK GREEN , " Vice-President . " To the report is subjoined a statement of the Grand Lodee accounts at

the last meeting of the Finance Committee , held on Friday , the nth August , showing a balance in the Bank of England of £ 4245 4 s . s d . ; and in the hands of the Grand Secretary for petty cash - £ 75 , and for servants ' wages , £ 100 .

Bro . PERCEVAL rose to propose that before that motion was put the consideration of the subject should be referred to the next Quarterl y Communication .

Bro . FENN observed that what he had proposed was merely that the report should be " taken as read . " The question whether the report be taken as read having been put by the Acting Grand Master and agreed to , Bro . PERCEVAL rose again and said that before the motion was passed he begged to move that in a matter of

such importance it was necessary that all the members of Grand Lodge should have due time for consideration of the alterations proposed to be made in it . Although copies had been left in the Grand Secretary ' s office , and others had been transmitted to Grand Secretary ' s of the provinces ,

there was not a sufficient opportunity afforded for members of Grand Lodge to compare the new Book of Constitutions with the old one ; and he thought that every lodge should be presented with a copy of the draft of the new Constitutions , and he would further propose that every brother who desired to do so should have an opportunity of purchasing a copy .

Bro . FENN again rose to order . The motion before Grand Lodge was that the report be received and entered on the minutes ; a motion of this sort did not commit Grand Lodge to anything . If this motion were agreed to he then should propose that the report of General Purposes be adopted ; and then would be the proper time for Bro . Perceval to bring forward his proposition .

The ACTING GRAND MASTER said that the question now was only whether this report should be entered on the minutes ; when Bro . Fenn moved for its adoption would be time to make objections . Bro . FENN ' S motion was then put to Grand Lodge and carried . Bro . FENN : Now Most Worshipful Grand Master , I beg to propose that

the report be adopted . Bro . SMALLPIECE said that he had much pleasure in seconding the motion . He thought that sufficient time had been given by the Board of General Purposes , and that there would be sufficient opportunity for those who objected to any portion of it to give notice of their objections according to the terms of the report .

Bro . PERCEVAL said he rose once more to propose the adjournment of this very important clause , atall events till next meeting of Grand Lodge ; and that all who chose to purchase copies should have an opportunity of doing so ; that every lodge should be supplied with a copy ; and that those members who chose to purchase a copy for their own convenience should be

enabled to do so , so as to be able to study it . The time allowed for sending in amendments was far too short , many of the Provincial Grand Lodges would not have met , and he therefore thought that in a matter of such moment as this a much longer tune should be allowed . ( Hear , hear . ) He did not doubt that the Board of General Purposes had spent much time and

consideration on the subject , and had had a hard task ; but at the same time he considered it due to the brethren at large that they should have more time to consider the proposed alterations and make their opinions known .

With these few remarks he begged to move the postponement of the consideration of the amended Constitutions until the next meeting of Grand Lodge , and in the meantime copies be sent to every lodge , and that every member of Grand Lodge be afforded an opportunity of purchasing cop ies .