United Grand Lodge Of England.

of the ist of June , which were put to the meeting and unanimously confirmed . Bro . Col . S HADWELL H . C LERKE , G . Sec , next read the report of the special meeting of Freemasons at the Royal Albert Hall on the 13 th June , presided over by the Prince of Wales , at which an address of congratulation was voted to the Qoeen on her completing the 50 th year of her reign . This report was ordered to be received .

Bro . Col . S HADWELL H . CLERKE next said he had the honour to report that a deputation consisting of H . R . H . the M W . G M ., Bros , the Earl of Lathom , D . G . M . ; Sir Albert W . Woods , CB . ( Garter ) , G . DC ; and himself waited on her Majesty the Queen at Osborne on the 2 nd August , and presented the address just read , which her Majesty received very graciously and was pleased to reply thereto as follows -. —¦ the

" I receive with great pleasure your loyal and dutiful address on completion of the 50 th year of my reign , f have observed that the Society of Freemasons increases in number and prosperity in proportion as the wealth and prosperity of my Empire increase , and I heartily appreciate the efforts which have always distinguished your Society . I heartily thank you for your devotion to my throne and person . "

Bro . TEW proposed that this gracious address be incorporated with the minutes of the Grand Lodge of this ' ev-ning . ( Hear , hear . ) This was seconded by Bro . SANDEMAN . and carried unanimously . Bro TEW next said it fell to his duty , occupying the chair that evening , to propose , on behalf of his Royal Highness , the M . W . GM . "that the thanks of Grand Lodge be given to the R . W . Bro . Sir Albert

W . Woods , C . B . ( Garter ) , P . G . W ., Grand Director of Ceremonies , for his efficient arrangements fur the Masonic meeting at the Royal Albert Hall on the 13 th June last , to celebrate her Majesty's Jubilee , and also to the V . W . Bro . Thomas Fenn , President of the Board ot General Purposes , for his valuable assistance on the occasion . " He would do so in the following words " That the best thanks of this Grand Lodge are due , and are hereb y given to R . W . Bro . Sir Albert W . Woods , C . B . ( Garter ) , Past G . Warden

and Grand Director of Ceremonies , for his very able and efficient arrangements for thr great Masonic meeting held at the Royal Albert Hall on the 13 th June , 1887 , in celebration of the Jubilee of her Majesty the Queen . " It needed few words on his part to introduce this resolution to them , because he was sure that all of them who for a long series of years had had the honour of the acquaintance of Bro . Sir Albert Woods and the pleasure of witnessing his courtesy cordially felt that this resolution was most applicable to him lor his great services on that occasion . ( Applause . ) Bro . H . D ~ . SANDEMAN had the greatest pleasure in seconding the

motion . The vote was carried with acclamation . Bro . Sir ALBERT WOODS , who was received with loud applause , thanked the brethren most sincerely lor this vote of their appreciation of his humble services . It had been his pride and pleasure now for 33 years to hold the distinguished office which he now filled . ( Cheers . ) During that time he had , to the best of his ability , perlormed those duties to their satisfaction ,

and he would only say that he had performed them with the most fervent desire of serving the Craft to which he belonged . ( Renewed applause . He could not conclude without tendering to Bro . Fenn his most grateful acknowledgments lor the very efficient assistance which he rendered to him on that occasion . On Bro . Fenn alone did the duties of that day fall . His ( Sir A . Woods ) services were very slight compared with Bro . Penn ' s , and he tendered to him now publicly in this Grand Lodge his sincere thanks for the able and efficient manner in which he acted on that occasion .

( Applause . ) Bro . TEW then said he had to call the brethren's attention to the second part of the proposal of the Prince of Wales : — " That the best thanks of this Grand Lodge are due , and are hereby given , to V . W . Bro . Thos . Fenn , P . G . D ., the President of tlie Board ot General Purposes , for his very valuable services and well-skilled assistance on the occasion of the great Masonic

meeting at the Royal Albert H ; 11 on the 13 th June , 1887 , in celebration of the Jubilee of hrr Majesty the Queen . " Permit him to say in support of this resolution , that to Bro . T . Fenn amazing credit was due for his genius and ability in so ably marshalling so many hundreds and hundreds ol brethren with such celerity into the Albert Hall , and the admirable manner in which every brother got out when it was over ; but perhaps there was one thing more that struck them all particularly , especially those of them who

lived in the country—the appearance of a colour garden . There was the wonderlul way in which Bro . Fenn organised the colours of Grand Officers , and brought about that very beautiful and rich appearance of the clothing of the brethren which he had described as a colour garden . That was due entirely to Bro . Fenn , and it had remained on their minds as one of the most brilliant spectacles ever organised . ( Cheers . ) Bro . H . D . SANDEMAN seconded the resolution .

The motion was adopted unanimously , amidst general applause . Bro . THOMAS FENN , who , on rising to respond , was received with renewed cheering , said , he thanked the brethren most sincerely for the very cordial manner in which ihey had received this complimentary vote . It would be idle of him to deny that the arrangements referred to occupied a great deal ol his time and attention . But having had similar , or somewhat similar

duties to perform in 1875 , ne was at last relieved of all doubts and anxiety as to the success of those arrangements . In all undertakings success was the best reward for a Mason , it was always gratifying to receive , nevertheless , the open acknowledgments of approbation of the brethren . He thanked Bro . Sir Albert Woods especially for the very kind manner in which he had spoken of his ( Bro . Fenn ' s ) assistance . ( Applause . ) He had been

associated with Sir Albert Woods now for a great many years—23 , he thoughtand he had assisted him , he believed , on all occasions . There would be no difference between them , and they had always worked together very cordially , and he hoped to the satisfaction and justification ot the brethren . He could only say that all the Stewards on that occasion were volunteers . He did not think that one single Steward was asked to perform any duties ,

they were all volunteers , and on account of the admirable manner in which they attended to their duties , without a murmer , whatever those duties were , to them he thought was due the great success ot the meeting . He could not refrain from mentioning Bro . Henry Trueman Wood , P . A . G . D . C , who relieved him of a good deal of physical labour by attending 10 the arrangements in the Albert Hall , and seeing those arrangements were

properly carried out . His acquaintance with the Hall and the officials was a very great assistance to him on that occasion . Nor must he iorget the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Surrey , who , having had to superintend arrangements at the Royal Albert Hall for many years , was particularly fitted for the duties which he carried out so successfully . For arrangements made in i 860 a vote of thanks of Grand Lodge . was carried to Sir

United Grand Lodge Of England.

Albert Woods and himself , and it was presented to them on vellum and framed and glazed . That vote of thanks had remained as a lasting memorial , and he trusted it would remain even after they ( Sir A . Woods and Bro . Fenn ) had gone . ( Hear , hear . ) In 1875 a similar pledge was

given to them—very similar to the present ; but ihe vellum was mi ssing , and consequently that vote of thanks was buried in the archives of Grand Lodge . ( Laughter . ) He thought he might make a suggestion to the brethren in appreciation of the compliment they had paid him and express the hope that this vote of thanks would be recorded in a substantial manner . ( Applause and laughter . )

Bro . TEW said he hoped that Grand Lodge would give its sanction to this proposal by resolving that the Grand Secretary be instructed to engross these resolutions on vellum lor presentation to the Prince of Wales lor his signature , and then that they should be presented in due form to the distinguished brethren , Bro . Sir A . Woods and Bro . Fenn . A BROTHER : And framed . ( Hear , hear . ) The suggestion was agreed to .

Bro . Col . SHADWELL H . CLERKE said it would afford him great pleasure to carry out the resolution of Grand Lod ge . Bro . TEW then read the following communication from the M . W . G . M . : It having been represented to the M . W . Grand Master that some Provincial and District Grand Masters are desirous of commemorating the Jubilee year of her Majesty ' s reign by conferring Past Provincial or

District Grand Rank on brethren in their provinces and districts , and that Article 8 7 ot the Book ot Constitutions would have to be specially suspended by Grand Lodge before any such appointments could be legally made , his Royal Highness the M . W . G . M . now submits the matter for the consideration of Grand Lodge , with the suggestion that , if it be thought proper to sanction the suspension of the law , the number ol appointments

authorised should not exceed one for every six lodges in the province or district , with one additional if the broken number exceeds three . He said it would be the duly of Grand Lod ge to take part 1 of this communication first , and he would call on Bro . Fenn to speak on it . Bro . FENN said , in the absence oi the Grand Registrar , Bro . PhilbrickJ it devolved upon him to propose the resolution in accordance with the

suggestion of the Prince of Wales , but he thought it would be more convenient if they would allow him to make a proposition respecting the two . He would put it in this form— "That in commemoration 01 the Jubilee year of her Majesty ' s reign , article 87 , of the Book of Constitutions , be suspended for ihe special purpose ol authorising Provincial and District Grand Masters to confer lor ihe present year Past Provincial Grand

Rank on brethren in their provinces and districts in the proportion of one lor every six lodges in the province or district with one additional if the broken number exceeds three , and that such authority be given to all Provincial and District Grand Masters accordingly . " Bro . the Rev . G . R . PORTAL , P . G . C , seconded the proposal . Bro . RICHARD biyE , G . L ' reas ., believed a great number ol brethren present

would agree with him in the remark he was going to make on this qu estion . He quite agreed that it was desirable to suspend the law in question , in order ihat Provincial and District Grand Masters should have the power of conlerring office and position upon brethren in the provinces or districts . They all knew ihere were many distinguished brethren in the provinces who for years had acted a great and good part towards the excellent

Institutions of Masonry , and had received no kind of reward . It was a very difficult matter for Provincial or District Grand Masters to select from a number of worthy brethren , distinguished brethren , to take the various positions , and he thought the suggestion an excellent one . But he was now speaking in order to show that an extension of the proposition would be a desirable thing in reference to provinces or oLtricts where the number of

lodges exceeded 30 . There were only 17 offi es to give away , and in provinces where the lodges were more than 30—in some they were 40 , 50 , 60 , and in one instance close upon 80—it would be well if the Grand Master ' s proposal was extended . Bro . Dr . J ABEZ HOGG , P . G . D ., wished to know whether this was in order , suggestions 01 me Grand Master were generally looked upon as commands .

Bro . fc-VE did not wish to interfere with the Grand Master , but ihe Grand Master had really only made a suggestion and left Grand Lodge to deal with it . He thought tney mignt give Prov . Grand Masters the privilegeof giving an office to one lodge in every four . In the large province of West Yorkshire , presided over so well by the acting Grand Master this evening —( applausej—there would then be 20 offices to give away instead of 12 . He moved that it be one in four .

Bro . the Rev . Dr . SMYTH , G . C ., seconded ; there were about 800 P . M . 's in W . Yorks who could never expect to get rank . Bro . the Rev . J . S . BROWNRIGG , P . G . C , was afraid this would be thought the apple 01 discord beiween large and small provinces which had hitherto worked together harmoniousl y . He hoped the amendment would be withdrawn .

A BROTHER , representing the Province of Middlesex , said his province would be very grateful if the amendment was carried . Bro . THOS . FENN had no objection to accept the amendment . It would be done without any offence to the Grand Master . If any motion had been

made contrary to the principle of the suggestion of the Grand Master , there might be an objection to it ; but he could have no objection to this amendment . He would accept , if the brethren would allow him , the amendment , and move it as an original proposition—where the lodges in a province or district exceeded 30 it should be one in four .

Sir ALBERT W . WOODS , CB . ( Garter ) , seconded . The motion was carried . The following grants , recommended by the Board of Benevolence , were then made ;—A brother of the Royal Jubilee Lodge , No . 72 , London ... £ jS ° ° The widow of a brother of the Sale in Lodge , No . 1443 Dawlish ... 75 0 o

, The widow of a brother of the Rose Lodge , No . 1022 , London ... 50 o o A brother of the Old Globe Lodge , No . 200 , Scarburough ... 50 o o The widow ot a brother of the tsca Lodge , No . 6 b ' 3 , Newport , Mon . 50 o o The wiJow of a brother of the Union Lodge , No . 157 , Margate ... 50 o 0 A brother ol the Grosvenor Lodge , . So . 1257 , London ... ... 100 0 o 0

The widow of a brotner of the Douglas Lodge , No . 1725 , Maidstone 100 o A brother of the Lodge of Perlect friendship , No . 370 , IpiWich ... 100 o o A brother ot the Keystone Ludjjt , N > . 36 . 5 , Whitworth ... 5 ° ° ° A brother of the LeOanon Lodg-, No . 13 ^ 6 , Fertharn ... ... 5 ° ° ° A brother ot the Mount Alexander LodgeNo . 692 Castlemain ,

, , Victoria ... ... ... ... ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the West Kent Lodge , No . 1297 , London 150 ° ° The following report of the Board of General Purposes was taken read , and ordered to be received and entered on the minu fces .