Grand Lodge.

GRAND LODGE .

LOXDOIT , SATURDAY , JUKE 8 , 1 S 61 .

The first Grand Lodge for the dispatch of business of the Masonic year 1861-2 was held on "Wednesday , and rarely have we seen such a muster of tie actual Grand Officers of the year present—the Grand Master , the Deputy Grand Master , and both the Grand Wardens

being in their places—an event which certainly has not occurred for the last three years , and which augurs well for Ereemasonry in the coming year / .

The crowded state of our columns must be our apology for but briefly referring to the proceedings this week . The most important business was the giving the M . W . Grand Master the power of conferring past or brevet rank on brethren who have distinguished themselves by

their services to the Order , and increasing the number of Grand Deacons to four—a measure called for by the growing strength of the body , which renders it difficult , on occasions of divisions in Grand Lodge , for the numbers on the respective sides to be accurately ascertained

with only two authorised tellers ; whilst at the same time the increased number of lodges fairly demanded that the honours of Masonry should , to a small extent , be increased , though no one would more strongly deprecate the making those honours too cheap than we should .

A resolution , expressive of the regret at the retirement of Earl Dalhotisie from office , was also unanimously passed , and ordered to be emblazoned on vellum , and presented to his Lordship . We would it had taken a more imposing form , and extended itself into a fitting

address , which might have been signed by the Grand Master and his principal officers on behalf of the Grand Lodge j but probably the simple resolution will be equally acceptable to his Lordship .

Sensible Laws.

SENSIBLE LAWS .

At the recent meeting of the Eoyal Benevolent Institution for Aged Ereemasons and their Widows , a very important point was raised by Bro . Warren , relative to the interpretation of the laws , and decided by the President of the Institution , the Most Worshipful the Grand

Master , in asense which almost entirely destroys the power of the subscribers , and renders any amendment of the laws , unless recommended by the Committee , next to impossible . By the rules of the Institution , the Annual Meeting

is appointed to be held on the third Eriday in May , for the transaction of general business , the election of ten members of the Committee , and of such number of annuitants as the Committee may determine . This

meeting is held at twelve o ' clock , and the ballot for annuitants is opened at one , so that the whole time allowed for the dispatch of business is practically reduced to one hour ; for , the moment the poll is opened , the confusion becomes so great , from the preparations and

negociations of the brethren in support of their respective candidates , and so many are taken from the general business before the meeting to serve as scrutineers , or takers of votes , that all decisions , should the business not be previously completed , are left to about a dozen

brethren , the majority of whom are themselves anxious to take part in tbe election , so that anything like argument is burked , and there is no opportunity of obtaining a fair consideration of a proposed alteration of the laws , be it ever so important .

In the majority of institutions , such an objection is met by allowing the discussion of alteration of the laws at a special meeting , and so wotild appear to have been the intention of the framers of the laws of the Benevolent Institution ; for it is specially laid down in Eule S , page 6 , that "A Special General Meeting shall be held on the requisition in writing of Twelve Life Governors , to be

delivered or sent to the Secretary , stating the object for which such meeting is to be held ; at which meeting no business shall be discussed except that specified in the Eequisition ; and at least seven days' notice of such meeting shall be given in three daily papers . "

What such a meeting can be called for , unless it be to consider an alteration in the laws , we are at a loss to understand , inasmuch as all appointments of paid officers are in the hands of the Committee , and any vacancy which may occur amongst the elected trustees , it ia

specially provided , shall only " be filled up at the next ensuing Annual General Meeting ; " and yet the Most Worshipful Grand Master has determined that an alteration of the laws can only be considered at the Annual General Meeting , because Law 45 says , "No

motion for any new Eegulation or Law , or the abrogation or alteration of any existing Eegulation or Law , shall be entertained at the Annual General Meeting , unless a copy of the same shall have been communicated to the Committee of Management at or previous to their Meeting in Eebruary , and the Committee shall direct notice of such motion to be inserted in the balloting paper . "

Now , though it is as clear as the sun at mid-day , that no motion for the alteration of the laws can be taken into consideration at the Annual General Meeting without a certain notice , yet we contend that there is nothing in the law we have quoted to prevent such alterations

being considered at a Special Meeting , on requisition duly presented in accordance with Eule 8 ; and yet the M . W . G . Master has determined that the law does so operate . At the laBt General Meeting , Bro . Warren .