United Grand Lodge.

they had on their books J 47 Vice-Patrons . Therefore they altered their rules and asked Grand Lodge to sanction it , and also a rule to allow Patrons . Coming to details—he was speaking only for himself , because the opposition had come like a bomb-shell , for the meeting only took place last night . Bro . EVI-. KKIT wished to correct this statement ; the

resolution vvas passed by the Boys' School last Friday ( November 30 th ) . Bro . F . MEAII said he vvas told it vvas last night . It vvas only yesterday , at all events , the opposition vvas known , and he had not had time to consult Bro . Farnfield . He thought there were mistakes in the proposition , but a much graver error had been made by thc

opposition . He believed thc mistakes could be put ri tf ht by the three Institutions , vvho had their ullices al ) under one root , and that might have been stated lo the Grand Secretary . Instead of this , a circular vvas sent out calling upon supporters of the other Institutions to attend and oppose . Bro . G . EVKUKTT : No , lo delay it .

Bro . F . MK . VH .- Very well , to delay it . Very hard words bad been used with regard to this letter , but very strong threats had been used by those vvho had bcen the best supporters of the Benevolent , some of whom were among the best supporters of thc Boys' and Girls ' , vvhich threats , if carried out , would be much to tbe disadvantage of those two Institutions . Was this right' :-

Hitherto they had lived in brotherly love . When wrong was inflicted on an individual he smarted under it , and it vvas natural , it was only manly and British that he should retaliate . He hoped th ? . tall such feeling would disappear before they parted that night . He thought there was a mistake vvith regard to the votes to be allowed , lhat it should be 110 instead of go . He thought it a mistake lo say six votes for live guineas ,

it should have been two or three . If Grand Lodge permitted and Bro . Farnfield would agree , it might be allowed and he hoped it would salisly all opposition . The rules might be put more in accordance vvith those of the Girls' and thc Boys ' . The Benevolent gave a vote of five shillings the Girls' aud Boys' for a guinea , but the latter had two elections a year to the Benevolent Institutions one election . The Girls' and

Boys' Institutions could alter their rules without coming to Grand Lodge , but thc Benevolent could nol . Bro . W . MUKI . KV pointed out lhat hitherto there had been a tacit agreement between the Ihrce Institutions that lodges and Masonic bodies should have a smaller equivalent in votes for their money than individuals . Had this resolution come before Grand Lodge only for

the purpose ot authorising thc Institution to create the position of Patron and Vice-Patron there would not have bcen a single objection , but lie thought there vvas a decided innovation that lor ion guineas 30 votes were to be given the same as to an individual . Bro . J . A . FAK . N ' I iKi . n said this amount was to be paid to each particular fund , vvhich came to thc same

thing as the Boys' and the Girls . Bro . W . Mom . iiY said anyhow thc resolution vvas imperfect . The new proposition would give 110 votes in perpetuity ; for 400 guineas 350 votes instead of as at present 150 ; and for each subsequent 200 guineas 14 a votes instead of 60 . He proposed that thc resolution should not be upheld but be reconsidered .

Bro . J GLASS , 453 , supported . Ihe resolution was full of great inaccuracies , vvhich had been admitted . If it became one of the laws of the Institution , it seemed as if it would rather defeat its object , which was to attract more funds lo the good objects which it tried to promote . If 20 brethren subscribed 10 guineas each they had 80 votes for life among Ihcm . If a

Masonic body subscribed the same amount ol money they would receive a very much larger number of votes . If 40 brethren desired to become Life Governors and subscribed 10 guineas each , they would have 160 voles among them lor life . Under the proposed rule they could combine and give it through a lodge or chapter , and get 350 votes . Hc was sure there was

some way out ul tbe difficulty , and that sonic other method mig ht be devised . Bro . FKANI ; RICIIAHDSON , as a Subscriber to all the Institutions , vvas sure it vvas the feeling of all the Subscribcrs that the degrees of Patron and Vice-Patron should be conferred by Ihe Benevolent Institution , but he thought , also , it vvas the opinion of nearly all that

this discussion should be deterred for a meeting of the tlnce Institutions to settle the question among themselves . Bro . Ricii . vuo livK , for the Boys' School , agreed . Bru . J . A . F . viiNi-iKi . ii said thc alteration could not be made now . Grand Lodge must cither approve or disapprove . The resolution had been come lo by

general meeting of Subscribers , and if Grand Lodge did not approve , the Institution must do something else . Bro . FKANK RICHAUIISUN said Grand Lodge bad a perfect ri g ht to adjourn the discussion . Bro . J . A . FARNI II-. 1 . U observed that the- Institution must have another general meeting , lie hoped Grand

Lodge would carry this resolution . Bros . Pmi . imicK and A . C . Si ' . vui . i . thought it best to adjourn the question . Bro . TKUKV strongly opposed this view . No opposition vvas raised until Saturday last . Bro . McLeod had . Ulcndcd the meetings , and his opinion vvas asked and

acted upon . He maintained that the other Institutions were entirely different from the Benevolent . Bro . McLi : ou , while not agreeing wilh all Uro . Terry's statements said it was quite true he was present at the meeting of the Benevolent , but lit- believed none of them knew it wa : > the intention to do more than confer thc rank of Patron and Viee-1 ' . itron , with which

United Grand Lodge.

he cordiall y agreed , and not one word vvas said by the mover or seconder to imply that any exlra voting power would be given beyond what vvas given in the other two Institutions . It was after Grand Lodge agenda paper came out that brethren saw the effect of the resolution , and it was Thursday and nol Saturday that it was pointed out the alarming effect it would

have on the other Institution * . The liarl of J EUSKY would like to see the Benevolent Institution put on something of the same footing as the others , but not lu have the privilege of making Patrons and Vice-Patrons vvith the same figures as

appeared in the resolution which vvas sought to be sanctioned . Rro . J . A . FAKNI-IKI . II said he still failed to see how anything could be done to stultify thc decision of thc special meeting . The adjournment vvas then carried .

Cryptic Masonry.

Cryptic Masonry .

Grand Master ' s Council ( No . i ) . — A meeting of this council was held at the Mark Masons' Hall , Great < lueen-street , on the 30 th ult . Among those present vvere Comes . G . POWPII , T . I . M . ; E . Storr , P . T . I . M . ; A . McDowall " , P . C . of Wks . ; George Graveley , P . T . I . M ., Treas . ; Capt . T . C Walls , P . T . I . M ., Recorder ; W . A . Scurrah . G » orge Gregory , II . P . Hay . 1 . Smith , Basil Stewart , VV . II . Toye , 11 . J . Lardner , P . T . I . M ., and many

others . 'The minutes of the previous council having been read and confirmed , the ballot was taken on behalf of Bro . and Comp . VV . Mason Stiles , P . M ., P . Z ., P . G . Std . Br . ( Mark ) , G . Treas . ( R . A . ; , & c , and , it being unanimous , hc was duly admitted a member of the Four Degrees by Comp . H . J . Lardner , ably assisted by Comp . G . Graveley as P . C . of Wks . Communications regretting inability to attend were

received from Comps . Lieu ' .-Col . G . Lambert , P . D . G . M . j Baron de Ferrieres , P . D . G . M . ; the Rev . Dr . Lemon , P . G . Chap . ; R . L . Loveland , J . P .. P . T . I . M . ; H . II . Shirlcv , M . A ., D . M . ; Major " W . B . Williamson , J . P . ; J . J . Pakes , Major Penrose Dunbar , J . J . Thomas Nelson Brown , M . A ., and many others . A vote of thanks was

passed to Comp . Lardner for his services . The council vvas clr . sed in the Degree of Stieet Master , and thc companions dined at the Holborn Restaurant . Some excellent speeches were made by the ¦ Thrice lllustrous Master and Comps . E . Storr , 11 . J . Lardner , and VV . M . Stiles .

Our Portrait Gallery Of Worshipful Masters.

Our Portrait Gallery of Worshipful Masters .

BRO . F . BRENDEL , whose installation as VV . M . of the Egyptian Lodge , No . 27 , was recorded in our issue of 19 th May last , was born in 185 C , and came from a very old German family ; his late father was a partner of a well known Berlin banking firm of the same name . Our brother came

to England in November , 1879 , and five years later he went into business on his own account , which is now the firm of F . Brendel , Limited , of which he is the managing director . He vvas initiated in the Egyptian Lodge on 3 rd October , 1889 , and at once took a great and sincere interest in the Craft , and in less than six

months made himself thoroughl y acquainted with the ritual . These efforts were appreciated , as , at the first installation meeting after his initiation , hc was appointed Assistant Steward , and has since filled the offices of S . D ., J . W ., and S . W . The Egyptian Lodge is well-known in the Metropolis for the best of

working , and Bro . Brendel has gained a thorough mastery of the ritual , and vvill certainlyadd to thegreat reputation of his lodge , which is to be congratulated in having su excellent a Alaster . A report of thc Egyptian Lodge will be found in another column .

Mil . J BAKKI ; K , J . P ., has kindly consented to preside over the . Sth annual festival dinner of the Warehousemen , Clerk :, ' , and Diaper' Schools ( Purley , Suriey ) , whicli will be held in Luiidun eaily in the year iSuS .

Christmas Holiday Railway Arrangements.

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY RAILWAY ARRANGEMENTS .

'THE Mim . \ Nti RAILWAY COMPANY . J lie Midland Railway Company , to prevent inconvenience and overcrowding , have arranged for the booking offices at St . Pancras and Moorgate Street Stations to be open for the issue of tickets all tlay on Friday , Saturday , and

Monday , December 21 st , 22 nd , and 24 th , and tickets to all principal stations on the Midland Railway can be obtained beforehand at any of their offices , a list of which can be had on application . The tickets obtained at these offices vvill be available from St . Pancras Station , and vvill be issued at the same fares as charged at that station , and dated to suit the convenience of passengers . Cheap excursion trains will

be run from London ( St . Pancras ) to Carlisle , Edinburgh Glasgow , Greenock , Dundee , Aberdeen , & c , and from ' principal provincial stations to Carlisle , Edinburgh , Glasgow , & c , on Fridays , December 21 st , for five or eight days and December 28 th for five or seven days , by which return tickets vvill be issued at a third class single fare for the double journey . The Single Fare Tickets issued on

December 21 st will be available for returning on any day up to and including December 29 th , and Single Fare Tickets taken on December 28 th will be available ( or returning any day up to and including January 4 th , 1 S 95 . Cheap Excursion Tickets will be issued from London ( St . Pancras ) and principal provincial stations on Thursday , December 20 th , to Dublin , Cork , Killarney , Limerick , & c ,

via Liverpool , available for 16 days , on Friday , December 21 st , to Dublin , Sic , via Morecambe , available for returning on December 27 th , 29 th , and January ist , 3 rd , or 5 th , 1 S 95 ; on Friday , December 21 st , to Belfast , Londonderry , Portrush , & c , via Barrow , available for 16 days , and on Saturday , December 22 nd . to Londonderry , via Morecambe , available for returning December 31 st , or January 3 rd or 7 th . Cheap Excursion Trains vvill also be run from London

( St . Pancras ) on Saturday night , December 22 nd , to Leicester , Birmingham , Nottingham . Derby , Newark , Lincoln , Burton , Manchester , Liverpool , Blackburn , Bolton , Sheffield , Leeds , Bradford , York , Hull , Scarboro ' , Newcastle , thc Lake District , & c , returning December 26 th or 28 th . On Christmas Eve the pressure of traffic will be relieved by the running of duplicate trains from St . Pancras as circumstances may require .

THE LONDON AND NORTH WESTERN COMPANY . 'The London and North Western Company announce that the ticket offices at Euston , Broad Street , Kensington , and Willesden Junction will be open throughout the day , from Monday , December 17 th , to Monday , December 24 th , inclusive , so that passengers wishing to obtain tickets for any destination on the London and North Western Railway

can do so at any time of the day prior to the starting of the train . Tickets , dated to suit the convenience of passengers , can be oUtained at any time ( Sundays and Bank Holidays excepted ) at the following Town Receiving Offices of the Company : Cross Keys , 1 , Wood-street , Cheapside , E . C . ; 15 , Oueen-street , Cheapside , E . C . ; .. 22 , Aldersgate-slreel , E . G ^ j S and 9 , Clerkenwell Green , E . C . ;

Swan-vvith-Tvvo-Necks , C 5 , Gresham-street , E . C ; 30 , West Smithfield , E . C . ; Bolt-in-Tun , 64 , Fleet-street , E . C . ; Palmer ' s , 79 , Knightrider-street , E . C . ; Spread Eagle , 3 , Whittington Avenue , Leadenhall Market , E . C . ; 13 , Eastcheap , E . C . ; 116 , Holborn , E . C . ; George and Blue Boar , 2 S 5 , High Holborn , W . C . ; Atlas Office , 167 , Tottenham Court-road , W . C ; Golden Cross , Charing Cross , W . C ; 70 , St .

Alartin ' s-lane , W . C . ; 43 , New Oxford-street , W . C ; 3 < [ ames-street , Covent Garden , W . C . j Universal Office , Spread Eagle , Piccadilly Circus , VV . ; 34 , Parliament-street , Westminster , S . VV . j Hotel Windsor , Victoria-street , S . VV . ; Griffin's Green Man and Still , 241 , Oxford street , W . ; 49 6 , Oxford-street , VV . ; 231 , Edgware-road , W . j Lion , 10 S , New Bond-street , W . ; 33 , Hereford-road , Bayswater , VV . ;

34 , Albert Gate , Knightsbridge , S . W . ; The Eclipse , 160 B , Fulham-road , S . W . j 23 , High-street , Kensington , VV . ; ( 1 5 , Aldgate , Ii . j Royal Albert and Victoria Docks , Canning Town Goods Station . 41 , Barking-road , E . ; 233 and 2 J 4 > Blackfriars-road , S . E . j 117 , High-street , Borough , S . L i Surrey Railway Office , 13 S , Newington Causeway , S . r- J 194 , Westminster Bridge-road , S . E . ; "Angel , " Islington , 5 Pentonville-roadN . ; L . B . and S . C . Office , S , Grand

, , Hotel Buildings , Charing Cross . Tickets can also be obtained at Gaze and Sons' Tourist Offices , 142 , Strand , W . C . j 4 , Northumberland-avenue ; and 18 , Westbournegrove , W . ; and at the Army and Navy Co-operative Society's Stores , 105 , Victoria-street , Westminster , S . W . The ordinary service of express and mails trains will he supplemented by additional express trains as named below -.

On Saturday , December 22 nd , a special train will leave Willesden Junction at 2 . 55 p . m . for Bletchley , Wolverton , Rugby , principal stations on the Trent Valley Line , and Stafford , in advance of the 2 . 45 fp . in . ordinary train from London ( Euston ) . The 4-30 p . m ., Euston to Birming ham , will be divided—the first portion , which will run express to Coventry and Birmingham , will leave Euston at 4 . 25 P- - '

the second portion of the train vvill leave Euston at 4-391 ' - "' as usual , and convey passengers for Northampton , Mark " Harboro ' , Wellingboro ' , Rugby , Coventry , Birming ham . Walsall , Dudley , and Wolverhampton . On Monday , December 24 * , the night Irish mail due to leave Huston 8 . 20 p . m ., vvill not leave until 9-5 P- '" - I ' he ma ,, A ior Kingstown vvill wait the arrival of the train at Holy wanat

The 12 . 0 night train from London ( Euston ) , due vva - rington at 5 . 15 a . m . on Tuesday , December 25 th , will t ~ extended tram Warrington to Kendal and Carlisle as on ordinary week days . On Christmas Day , a Specia l "' vvill leave liuston at 6 . 15 a . m . for Northampton , K « B V Birmingham , Stafford , Crewe , Manchester , if"f " T Chester , Ireland , Lancaster , Preston , Carlisle , hdinbiKS ' , <> Glasgow , Sic 'The ordinary Sunday service of trains w 1 ?_ n _ u- „ t . II „ ; J , „ vu « , in « ili « December sum .

the Express 'Trains usually leaving London ( Euston ) 12 . 0 noon and 4 . 0 p . m . will not be run ; passengers vvi conveyed by tlie 12 . 10 p . m . and 4 . 10 p . m . trams ?* V ively . ' The 4 . 30 p . m ., London ( liuston ) to IlirmmgW ' and Wolverhampton , will also be discontinued , » passengers vvill be conveyyd by the 5 . 0 p . m . t ™ " > ~ L . £ , those for Market Harboro ' , Melton Mowbray , NottinfW Wellingboro " , & c , who vvill travel by the 3- ' 5 9-f ' ' ;|| from Euston . The S . iu p . m ., Euston to Northampton , ^ not be run . Numerous residential trains will not £ particulars ot which can be ascertained on te , [ erenc ,,- , „ 2 Company ' s local notices . The Up and Down L »'"