The Masonic Mirror.

never admitted that he had done so . On the 15 th April 1 S 61 being threatened b y the sheriff that an execution would be put into his premises for a debt of £ 180 , he had removed a few of bis goods of trifling value to the premises of the Masonic Hall , though not into the hall itself—he having had the key of the building for very many years—leaving on his premises furniture and stock in trade to the value of £ 1300 . On the following day arrangements were made with the sheriff through a friendand

, the debt and costs , amounting in the whole to £ 253 , had been paid in full . ( Hear . ) The goods were subsequentlyjbrought back to his premises , and on his unfortunatel y being adjudicated a bankrupt the whole were given up to his creditors and sold . It was not until Jul y that he heard any complaint about what he had done , and which was not likely to attract any notice as he was in the habit of lending furniture to the lodge for their

banquets , and his goods were therefore constantly going to and fro between his house and the Masonic Hall . He had written a full explanation of the facts to the D . Prov . G . Master in July , denying that he had ever intended to commit a fraud , and moreover he produced a newspaper giving an account of his bankruptcy , in which the Commissioner stated there could be no imputation of fraud against him . ( In the course of his address

Bro . continuall y referred to documents to prove the truth of his statements . ) Bro . SAVAGE , P . G . D ., thought a prima facie case ought to be made out against Bro . before he was called upon to proceed with his defence . Bro . FLEMING , Prov . G . M . Isle of Wight , called for certain documents , which were produced . Bro . Captain SAUNDEES , W . M . 176 , then detailed the

circumstances under which he made the complaint , but admitted that he knew nothing , excepting by hearsay . The PBESEDENT OE THE BOAED OF GENEEAL PURPOSES , who had been inspecting the documents , stated that it was not until the 30 th of November last Bro . had been called upon to show cause why he should not be suspended from his Masonic jn-ivileges by the Provincial Grand Lodge , though it was clear that the D . Prov . G . M . was in possession of all the circumstances

in July , and that Bro . had not admitted that he intended to defraud either the sheriff or his creditors . On the contrary , in his letter of the 11 th of July to the D . Prov . G . M . he admitted that he had moved the goods , "leaving plenty to pay " the execution ; and unless that could be proved to be untrue , he ought not to have been called upon to answer any complaint ; and if it could have been proved , there was plenty of time to

do so , as it wasnot until four months afterwards ° that the matter was brought before the Provincial Grand Lodge ! The fact was , that in the hour of difficulty Bro . did remove some articles of furniture which he wished to save ; but , looking at all the circumstances , there was nothing to warrant the conclusion that he did so fraudulently , and the matter ought never to have come before Grand Lodge . The Rev . W . K . R . BEDEOBD Grand Chaplaindid not wish

, , to prejudice the question ; but there was another most important charge beyond that of fraud , viz ., having used the Masonic hall , of which he had the key , for his own private purposes . Now he ( the Rev . Bro . ) , as clergyman of a parish , had the key of the church , but he should not be ' justified in using it for his private purposes . He thought , ' therefore , Bro . was open to a reprimand from Grand Lodge for having so used the Masonic Hall .

Bro . FLEMING , Prov . G . M ., after what had taken place , wished to make a short explanation . About ten days before the Prov . Grand Lodge he wrote to the Deputy Grand Master , telling him that he was going to hold the Prov . Grand Lodge and to cite Bro . -= ¦— and others before him . Bro . then admitted that the goods were removed to the Masonic Hall at one o ' clock on the Monday morning , and considering such a course as not only highly inmroper but likely to cast a slur on

the Craft , he had felt it his duty to suspend him from his Masonic privileges , and report his conduct to the M . W . Grand Master ; but he wished to be allowed to add that in the latter part of his letter he did ample justice to Bro . —— , having stated that up to that time he had borne an upright and honest character , and been a true and good Mason . •( Cheers . ) Bro . GBEGOEY , G . D ., thought it would have been better had the ProvGMaster investi the matter himself rather than

. . gated send'it to Grand Lodge . There was no doubt Bro . ¦ had "been imprudent in using the premises of the Masonic Hall , and he thought had the Prov . G . Master fully investigated the matter they would have been spared all these proceedings , which were

calculated to bring a scandal on the Craft . Now that the matter had been investigated , he hoped Bro . would be restored to his Masonic rights , of which he had been deprived on charges of which he had proved himself to be utterly guiltless . ( Cheers . ) The M . W . GEAND MASTEE thought that after what had taken place that Bro . should be reprimanded for the offence of using the Masonic Hall for his own purposesbut at

, the same time he should be acquitted of all suspicion of fraud , and fully restored to his Masonic privileges and rights . ( Cheers . ) Bro . STEBBING must interpose . No one knew who might be attacked next , and here was a most important question affecting the character—nay the existence of a respected brother , and there was no notice of it on the notice paper . After a slight conversation ,

The GEAND REGISTBAE said it was necessary to define the rule under wdiieh notices were to appear on the Agenda . It was necessary everyone should be made acquainted with the business before . Grand Lodge , and all notices of business must therefore appear on ' . the paper . On the last occasion this matter was before before Grand Lodge it was then resolved that Bro . should be summoned to this Grand Lodge to show cause why he should not be expelledand hence the business arose out of the

, minutes of the last Grand Lodge , which had been forwarded to every lodge —( A voice— -three months ago)—and therefore there was no necessity of placing any notice on the notice-paper . Bro . HENEY G . WAEEEN had not intended to say one word on the question before them , but he could not allow Bro . Roxburgh's ruling to pass unnoticed . It was not above three Quarterly Communications past since that , on a motion of Bro . Smith to give from the funds of the Grand Lodge

certain grants to the Charities , the M . W . Grand Master stated that though motions arising out of previous minutes need not appear on the notice-paper , it was better that they should do so , and suggested that the matter should stand over until the next Grand Lodge , and notice given , a course which was at once agreed to , and the discussion took place at a subsequent Grand Lodge , the notice appearing on the Agenda

paper . The GEAND SECBETABY wished to correct Bro . Warren . _ The Grand Master said it was an omission , but that business arising out of former minutes might be proceeded with though he thought it had better not . Bro . WAEEEN : —exactly what I ' stated . Your Lordship stated that it was an omission , that the business might , notwithstanding be proceeded with , but suggested that it should not .

( Hear . ) Bro . ISEAEL ABEAHAMS , J . W . 223 , thought that the charges had been so fully met that there ought not be a reprimand . He would therefore move that the suspension of Bro . be removed without a reprimand . The GEAND MASTEE did not think the case quoted by Bro . Warren altogether aualagous to this , inasmuch as that involved the funds of Grand Lodge , and this case clearly rose out of the last

minutes . He did not see how they could do otherwise than reprimand the brother then before them . They ought to be carefully jealous that their Masonic halls should not be used by individual brethren for other than Masonic purposes , be these purposes legal or illegal , and therefore he would put his motion . The motion having been carried by a large majority . The GEAND MASTEE then said , Bro . , in the name of Grand Lodge I have to reprimand you for an improper use of

the Masonic Hall , but you are acquitted of all fraud or intentions of fraud , and relieved from any imputations cast upon your character . ( Cheers . ) You will therefore be restored to your Masonic privileges , and I now direct the Senior Grand Warden to re-invest you with your Masonic clothing . The Brother was then re-invested amidst loud cheers , and thanked the Grand Master for the kind attention he had g iven to his caseand the brethren for the consideration they had

, evinced towards him . Various grants of money from the Fund of Benevolence were then made , as set forth in the Agenda paper , which appeared in our number last week . The report of the Audit Committee was received , and ordered to he entered on the minutes .

THE GEAND LODGE PEOPEBTY . The M . W . G . MASTEE said that the next question to come before them was the report of the Board of General Purposes , out of which would arise a question of vast importance , which