United Grand Lodge.

Master for the ensuing year his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales . It is not usual , and it is not necessary , for a brother who has the honour allowed him to nominate the G . M . to inflict a speech on G . Lodge . During the years the Prince of Wales has been G . M ., he has invariably not only in G . Lodge , but throughout Masonry , performed his duties in such a way as to win the admiration and respect of the Craft . ( Cheers . )

Bro . JOHN GLASS , P . M . 453 : Most Worshipful the Grand Master in the chair , I have again the pleasure , on behalf of the Right Worshipful Grand Master of Norths and Hunts and the brethren of the province and of a large number of eminent brethren of London and the provinces , to nominate for the office of Grand Treasurer , W . Bro . Harry Manfield . W . Bro . Harry Manfield was initiated in 18 S 2 , and is now P . M . 1764 and 1911 ,

P . Prov . S . G . W . Norths and Hunts , also P . P . G . Soj . Norths and Hunts , Vice-Patron Royal Masonic Institution for Girls , Patron Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , Vice-Patron Royal Masonic . Benevolent Institution , and Representative of the Province of Norths and Hunts on the Board of Management of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys , in which capacity he has done most admirable service for that Institution . In fact ,

Bro . Manfield ' s Masonic and social attainments , I venture to say , are such as in every way fit him for the hig h and responsible office of G . Treasurer . Brethren may with the utmost confidence feel that in electing him they will appoint an upright man and Mason . I do not propose to take up the time of Grand Lodge by detailing the many estimable qualities of our brother , nor detail his very numerous and excellent Masonic achievements .

These I went into at some length last year , when , although opposed by a very distinguished and popular London candidate , Bro . Manfield obtained 1030 votes for the office of Grand Treasurer . This fact alone inclines me to believe that a considerable amount of gratification will be afforded , and you , Most Worship ful Grand Master in the chair , may be now permitted to proceed without interruption to the next item on the agenda . ( Applause . ) The Eail of WARWICK enquired whether there was any other

nomination . There being no response , cries of " Bravo ! " were raised , and there was general applause . The Earl of WARWICK then declared Bro . James Henry Matthews reappointed President of the Board of Benevolence , and Bro . Matthews advanced to the throne and was re-invested .

The Earl of WARWICK declared Bro . David Dixon Mercer duly elected Senior Vice-President , and Bro . Henry Garrod Junior Vice-President of the Board of Benevolence . Bro . LETCHWORTH read the following names of brethren nominated to serve as Past Masters on the Board of Benevolence :

Bros . James Block , P . M . 1158 ; Fredk . Wm . Downes , P . M . 115 S ; William H Caton , P . M . 1365 ; George B . Chapman , P . M . 299 ; John Ellinger , P . M . 2222 ; Simon H . Goldschmidt , P . M . 1329 ; Frederick W . Hancock , P . M . 548 ; Wm Kipps , P . M . 1275 ; Edward Nightingale , P . M . 87 ; Charles Pulman , P . M . 720 ; Charles Henry Stone , P . M . 507 ; Robert Wellwood Ker , P . M . 194 ; and Wm Wills , P . M . 1901 .

Bro . LETCHWORTH said that , in order to ¦ prevent an election , Bro . F William Downes , 1158 , had been good enough to retire , and , under those circumstances , there would be no election . ( Applause . ) The Earl of WARWICK : I have great pleasure , brethren , in declaring those 12 brethren whose names have just been read to you duly elected

( Applause . ) The Report of the Board of Benevolence was then read , and the following grants were confirmed , on the motion of Bro . J . H . MATTHEWS , seconded by Bro . D . D . MERCER : A brother of the Mount Edgcumbe Lodge , No . 144 6 , London ... ... ... ... ... £ 75 o o A brother of the Northern Lodge of China , No . 570 ,

Shanghai ... ... ... ... 50 ° 0 A brother of the Zetland Lodge , No . 603 , Cleckheaton ... 100 o o Eight orphan children of a late brother of the Hundred of Elloe Lodge , No . 4 69 , Spalding ... ... 100 o o A brother of the Royal York Lodge , No . 315 , Brighton ... 50 o o

A brother of the Langthorne Lodge , No . 1421 , Ilford , Essex ... ... ... ... ... 50 o o A brother of the Southern Star Lodge , No . 115 S , London . 150 o o A brother of the St . Chad's Lodge , No . 1129 , Rochdale ... 50 o o A brother of the Afan Lodge , No . S 33 , Aberavon ... 50 0 o A brother of the Bank of England Lodge , No . 2 G 3 ,

London ... ... ... 75 o o A brother of the Beaconsfield Lodge , No . 1 G 62 , London ... 75 o o A vote of thanks to the President , Bro . James H . Matthews , for the courteous manner in which he had , during the past year , presided over the meetings of the Board , was carried at the November meeting .

On the motion of Bro . R . LOVELAND LOVEI . AND , Q . C , President , seconded by Bro . W . J . MASON , Vice-President , the report of the Board of General " Purposes , as published in these columns last week , was taken as read and ordered to be received and entered on the minutes . Bro . R . L OVELAND LOVELAND then moved that the following lodges be erased from the roll of Grand Lodge , they having either seceded , ceased to

work , or by the required majority decided to place themselves under the jurisdiction of the newly-recognised Grand Lodge of New Zealand : Canterbury — Ionic Lodge , No . 1917 , Leeston . Otago and Southland — Southern Cross Lodge , No . 997 , Ivercargill ; Waitaki Lodge , No . mi , Oamaru ; Lake Lodge of Ophir , No . 1195 , Queenstown ; Mount Ida Lodge , No . 1262 , Naseby ; Aparima Lodge , No . 1617 , Riverton ; Palmerston

Lodge , No . 1749 , Palmerston ; Herclues Lodge , No . 1875 , Tapanui ; Hiram Lodge , No . 2008 , Dunedin ; St . John ' s Lodge , No . 2102 , Mosgiel ; Waikonita Lodge , No . 2115 , Waikonita ; Mokarita Lodge , No . 2287 , Wyndham ; and Lod >> e of Fortitude , No . 2351 , Blulf . Westland—Tatara Lodge , No . 1241 , Ross . Auckland—Albion Lodge , No . 2003 , Devonporl , and Alpha Lodge , No . 2014 Cambridge . Lodges not under a district—Marlborough Lodi < e of Unanimity , No . 12-16 , Blenheim ; Forest Lodge , No . 1481 , Wakefield ; Victory Lodge , No .

1927 , Nelson ; and Waitoki Lodge , No . 2036 , Picton . With the exception of two of these lodges the warrants had been returned back to Grand Lodge and a good many of them would like to have their warrants returned when cancelled . From these two there was an intimation to the District Grand Secretary of our Grand Lodge that they had gone over to the Grind Lodge which had been formed in that district . Bro . W . J . MASON seconded .

Bro . R ICHARD EVE , P . G . T ., with respect to the rights of minorities , wished to kr . ow whether the course had been pursued which was laid down by Grand Lodge in September , 18 9 8 , whether three months had passed before the cancellation , and that none of the minoiities had applied for the resuscitation of the warrant ?

United Grand Lodge.

Bro . LOVELAND LOVELAND replied that the three months either had elapsed or would elapse before the cancellation of the warrants , with the exception of the two lodges , one at Otago , and the one at Westland . We had not received the warrant , but had a notification from the Dist . Grand Secretary that they had gone over to the new Grand Lodge . Bro . RICHARD EVE said he was quite satisfied . The motion was then carried .

Bro . Rev , F . BETHUNE N . NORMAN LEE , Chaplain to the Forces , G , Chaplain , then moved to add to Rule 165 of the Book of Constitutions" And if in any Lodge it should become impossible to hold the regular meeting upon the day named in the Bye-laws for that purpose , the Grand Master , and in Provinces and Districts the Provincial and District Grand Master , may grant a dispensation for the holding of such meeting upon a day not later than seven days before or after

that day fixed by the Bye-laws , which day shall for all purposes be deemed the regular day of meeting . " He said he thought such an alteration was necessary , as , by the present rules , a hardship was inflicted on the Craft , as if a lodge could not be held on the day named in the by-laws they could not at an emergency meeting propose a candidate or confirm minutes of a regular meeting . Therefore , he wished to give the powers named in his notice of motion .

Bro . THOMAS FENN , acting S . G . W ., supported the motion , although after the laws had been settled by brethren of great experience and authority he had a great objection to any alteration . A BROTHER thought that considering the question was one of farreaching and important effect it required more consideration than could be given in a meeting of Grand Lodge , and he moved that it be referred to the Board of General Purposes .

Bro . RICHARD EVE , P . G . T ., seconded the amendment . The matter could be easil y settled by the Board ; there was not much question at present . The Earl of WARWICK said he thought the amendment very reasonable and that Grand Lodge would be wise in adopting it .

Bro . the Rev . F . N . BETHUNE NORMAN LEE observed that it had already been before the Board of General Purposes .. ( No , no . ) He spoke subject to correction . Bro . THOMAS FENN said he did not know it himself . If Bro . Norman Lee agreed to a reference to the Board , he . did not object , and he thought it was the only proper course .

Bro . R . LOVELAND LOVELAND said that as President of the Board , as far as he recollected for four years the Board had never had the question before it .

Bro . the Rev . NORMAN LEE thought that before a matter went to the Board you had to write . If so , to whom were you to write ? Bro . R . LOVELAND LOVELAND said it was brought before , the General Committee of Grand Lodge first , which was quite a different bod y . Bro . the Rev . NORMAN LEE said he wrote some months ago , and he thought it was to the Board of General Purposes . The amendment was put and carried .

Bro . the Rev . NORMAN LEE : I must ask you , Right Worshipful Grand Master , to let someone propose it in my place . I shall be gone to South Africa . The Earl of WARWICK : I am sorry for it . The Earl of WARWICK next said that , in the absence of Sir Reginald Hanson , P . G . W ., he ventured to ask the brethren to allow him to move the

resolution which stood in his name . If he might say so , he thought the resolution was of such importance that he was sure it would have the support and sympathy of the whole Masonic body throughout the country , because it conveyed in a practical way the universal support of all . Had they had the great honour and privilege of the presence of the Grand Master among

them that evening , he felt certain that such a resolution as that would hav < j been moved by his Royal Highness himself . Of course , it was open to anyone to say whether they approved of the distribution of the sum of 1000 guineas in the way in which it was proposed : but he was quite sure he was echoing the sentiments of all in that bod y when he moved the

resolution—That the sum of 1000 guineas be voted from the funds of Grand Lodge to be paid over to the Mansion House Transvaal War Fund for distribution in the following proportions : 400 guineasfor the wives and children of those serving in Soilh Africa .

200 guineas for the widows and orphans . 200 guineas for the sick and wounded . 200 guineas for the disabled soldiers and sailors . He felt that the heart of every Mason was with their brave soldiers who were lighting for their country at the present moment . He had great pleasure in moving the resolution that stood in Sir Reginald Hanson ' s name .

Bro . W . W . B . BEACH , M . P ., acting Deputy Grand Master , said he had great pleasure in seconding the motion . The cause in which it was proposed came home to the hearts of all Masons , who were always anxious to take part in any Charitable fund arising out of any distress . The motion commended itself to the hearts of all Masons , and he hoped it woul J meet with universal approbation .

. Bro . 11 . D . M . LITTLER , Q . C , P . Dep . G . Reg ., said no one would suppose that in proposing an amendment to the resolution he wished in any way to oppose the amount which had been given . On the contrary , he should not have objected if the amount had been ten times as much . The only amendment that he had to propose was as to the distribution of the fund , and he wished the brethren to consider how the sum was to be laid

out . There was very considerable difficulty to be encountered with regard to the way in which the fund should be appropriated . Remembering how strong a following Masonry had in the Colony of Natal the question arose whether the fund should not be appropriated , not only to the soldiers and sailors of the officers and others in this country , but whether some part should not be appropriated to those who had lost their homes in the colony . The brethren in Natal had been losing their homes and their farms , and

had also taken up arms , and had been a great power and a means of saving this country . He thought that if they were to overlook their brethren in Natal , who weie making every effort lor this country , if they were not to take part in their Charity , when the fact reached them out there it would have a great effect on them . Therefore , he thought it would be of great advantage if they were to be allowed to lake part in the reception ot the fund . There might be some difficulty as to how it should be appropriated , and how far the Mansion House Fund could be associated in this object .