United Grand Lodge.

aid lie begged most sincerely to thank the brethren for the honour they had been pleased to pay him , and for tlie confidence thsy had reposed in him during his absence from England when engaged in the public service of the country , by again electing him to fill the office of Grand Master . There was no one more aware than he was how inadequatel y he had discharged his

duties in , the past year , partly through domestic afflictions , shortly after his election , and partly from public affairs , with which her Majest y had been pleased to entrust him—duties which though not directly connect ed with Masonry , yet had a most important bearing upon the Mission of Masonry , and bearing upon the peaceful relations between the two great branches of

the Anglo-Saxon race . Therefore he felt strongly that he hud a large claim on the indul gence of the members of Grand Lodge . His duties across the Atlantic had detained him for a lengthened period , and as his mission was one of peace and for the purpose of cementing kindly feelings and affection between the Anglo-Saxon races , his mission had really a masoni character . Tlie noble lord then , at some length , described the

enthusiastic and magnificent reception he had met with from tlie Grand Lod ge of the District of Columbia , which was not merely attended by the masons of Washington but many camo thousands of miles to be present at the meeting , and they charged him to carry across the Atlantic and to communicate to the Grand Lod ^ e of

England tho truly masonic feelings of the American reasons towards the masons of this country . II-j fL-lt that the reception he had met with wns tendered to him as the representative of Grand Lodge of England , and so to the whole craft . He had found the -utmost fraternal regard for the Masons of the mother country . This cordial reception , lie had

assured the American . Masons , would ensure them an equally cordial reception , when on any occasion members of their bod y should visit an English Lodge . The Grand Alaster then appointed Scrutineers for taking the votes for the election of members of the Board of General Pur . poses , and the Colonial Board , viz .:-Bros . Joseph Smith , S . Gale , J . Cottebrune , II . Garratt , J . Weaver , Cockcral ' t , and Sillifant .

Ihe Grand Secretary informed the Grand Alaster that since the nomination of the Committee of Management of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , it had been diseoved that one Brother on the list was not eligible , and his name was therefore withdrawn ,

Ihe Grand Deacons and Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies were then called upon to distribute the balloting papers , After the Scrutineers had collected the balloting papers , and had retired for the purpose of making their return , The Grand Registrar , Bro . J . Mclntyre , asked tlie permission of the Grand Alaster to move a resolution which , althoueh he

was aware , was not strictly in order , but under the exceptional circumstances the Grand Master would sanction his departure from the strict rule . The permission he desired was that Grand Lodge should pass a resolution expressive of their thanks to the Grand Lodgo of the District of Columbia , and to the Masons in the United States generally , for

the fraternal esteem and regard they had shown to the Most AVorshi pful the Grand Alaster of England , which would ever be appreciated by this Grand Lodge . AVith the permission of the Grand Alaster , lie would put the resolution in form , and hand it to the Grand Secretary that it mi ght he duly seconded . The Grand Master said , Unit although always reluctant to permit any departure from the rules governing the proceedings

of tho Grand Lodge , but he felt with the Grand Registrar , and by the enthusiastic response made b y the brethren present , ho should on this occasion be justified in sanctioning such a departure . The Grand Registrar , in an able address , moved the resolution , which was seconded by the acting Deputy Grand Alaster , Bro . II . It . Lewis , Dist . G . M . Sumatra . The motion was thereupon put and carried by acclamation in a most enthusiastic manner .

Ine Report of the meetings of the Lodge of Benevolence during the last quarter was read , in ivhich were recommendations for the following Grants , viz . : — The AVidow of a Brother , of the Royal Somerset House and Inverness Lodge , Xo . 4 , London £ 100 The Widow of a Brother . of the St . Paul ' s LodgeNo . 194

, , London . p-., A Brother of the St . Matthew ' s Lodge , S " o . 539 , AVallsall £ 50 The Widow of a Brother of the Shakespeare Lodge , A ' o . 284 , Warwick £ 30 The Widow of a Brother of the Restoration Lodge , So . Ill , Darlington . p-. y

llie several grants having been put seriatim , on the proposition of the R . W . Bro . J . R . Clabon , were confirmed . The Report of the Board of General Purposes , dated May 17 , was , on the proposition of Bro . LI . Evans , taken as read . [ The Report will be found in last week ' s ' --Freemasons' Magazine . " ] Tiie Report was received and ordered to be entered upon the minutes .

Bro . Fraser , President of the Colonial Board , moved that the Report of that Body , dated May 2 , be taken as read , and that it he received and entered in the minutes , which was carried unanimously . The Annual Report of Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , dated , 19 th Alay , was laid before Grand Lodgehy tho

, Grand Secretary , who , in reply to the Grand Alaster , stated that it had never been tho practice to read the Report in Gran ' Lodge , except upon request , and with the sanction ot the Grand Alaster .

Ihe M . AV . G . M . inquired whether any brother required it read , and their was no response . The next business was the notices of motion of Sir P . Colqnhoun : — Tlie Grand Alaster said : that onl y having arrived in England on Friday last , he had not had an opportunity of inquiring into

the matter . He would ask the proposer of tho motion to allow the matter to stand over , as he desired to give it his personal attention . Bro . Sir . P . Colqnhoun would yield to the suggestion of the Grand Alaster , and complied with the Grand Master ' s request . The Grand Secretary then read the motion of Bro . R . AV Stewart .

Bro . R . AV . Stewart in proposing his motion , stated the motives by which he was actuated in desiring to change the hour of meeting . The object was to canvass the opinion of the members of Grand Lodge : The motion was then seconded by a brother , as a matter of form , to enable it to be discussed . Bro . Alason opposed the motion , and deprecated the idea .

Bro . P . Bennoch , also opposed the motion . The M . AV . G . M . would not wish to influence the opinion of Grand Lodge , but would state his objections to any change in the