United Grand Lodge.

money invested m the funds , but they did not spend half that amount iu grants by the Board of Benevolence ; consequently there was a surplus of about £ 2 , 000 a your , which wont ou accumulating . Now the question had been aske 1 whether they had any right to take away from future Masons the right of participating in these funds , but ho should be exceedingly sorry to find that any one should be tempted to enter their Order for

the sake of obtaining the benefits of them . However , having accumulated a large fund , the time must come when that accumulation ought to cease . They might keep £ 30 , 000 for the support of their Charities , and then consider what they would do for the future . As lie did not believe that persons would be tempted to enter their Order for the purpose of obtaining

a share of the funds of the Board of Benevolence , he thought they might fairly begin to consider what they would do with the surplus , instead of going on accumulating . He would begin by attending to the children of their schools on their leaving , and in doing so he thought ¦ there was nothing like an instance as an illustration . A leading boy left their schools , he

being fifteen years of age , but he was not fitted to go to a trade or business , and there was no person to give liim a premium . A situation , however , was found for him in a stockbroker ' s office , at 6 s . per week , at which he must have remained for some time had not some friends come forward to make up the amount to 15 s ., to keep the lad until he was able'to provide fur

himself . Therefore what they wanted was , some fund by which they could bridge over the interval of the time of a nice boyleaving school until he was able to keep himself . On this point he would read a letter he had received from Miss Davie ? , the talented mistress of the Girls' School , and the letter also

gave the opinion of Miss Jarwood , the matron , on the subject . The letter was as follows : — "My dear Sir , —Miss Yarwood and I have read and thought over your paper , and find that we have but little to add to what we said personally to you on Thursday , viz ., that we feel , and have for some time felt , what a great boon such a fund as you propose would bein heling onr children in their

, p first start in life . With so many who on leaving , look chiefly to their school for assistance in that respect , the great difficulty we have to deal with is " want of means . " Cases are few ( taking the number ) where the friends can raise money for a premium . Some cases there are where they cannot even keep the child ; should she give her services in a school , or in any business , for advantages received , they must at once earn ; thus some are

obliged to take situations inferior to their abilities , or the previous position of their parents . Some are a long time getting settled to anything , while others , who would be far better articled for a time as governess pupils in good private schools , or apprenticed to business—which would lead to something certain in the future—are obliged to turn to that unfailing resourcea nursery governessbecause it is a position

, , which requires no premium , and one in which they may at once earn , however little it may be . For at the age of sixteen , however well a girl may have been educated , sho cannot be more than nursery governess , neither will she ever be , unless she has the opportunity of continuing her education . Were such a fund once started the great advantage of it would soon be apparent and be feltIt would increase the ties of love

. and gratitude which bind these children to their school . To it they would owe everything ; and the future would find many former pupils' names in its list of subscribers . This is a subject in which we feel deep interest , and in favour of which we cannot speak too strongly . Sincerely wishing it success .

"lam , dear Sir , yours respectfully , " Sarah Louisa Davies . " John M . Clabon , Esq . " He had also received a letter from Mr . Ferrier , the master of the Boys' School , to a similar effect , but he would not occupy the time of the brethren by reading it . His first proposition was that one-third of the surplus of the Fund of Benevolence

should be appropriated to the Boys' School , and another third for the Girls' School , in forming funds for apprenticeship ami assistance . As to giving a sum of money for marriage portions , he had heard objections to that course , and he thought it would be better to omit that recommendation , and should offer no observations upon it , but leave the matter in the hands of Grand

Lodge . At the last Grand Lodge it had been suggested that instead of having it referred to a separate committee of Grand Lodge , that another matter might be taken up by a committee on this subject , but as Bro . Symonds had shown him the terms of his motion he ( Bro . Clabon ) could not assent to it as it would compromise an inquiry into the whole of the funds of

the Board of Benevolence . Now he ( Bro . Clabon ) only proposed to inquire into the surplus , and if a committee was appointed they would only deal with the subject as to applying the surplus to the schools , and would not be a committee to inquire into the administration of the funds of the Board of Benevolence . The names of three gentlemen , he was told , had

been omitted , who ought to have been named on the committee , hut if it was appointed he had no objection to include them . He had been in the chair at the Board of Benevolence , and he believed that the funds were well administered , and he suggested that there should not be an inquiry into the general conduct of the Board of Benevolence . He concluded by moving

the recommendation previously set forth . Bro . IT doll , P . G . D ., seconded the motion . Bro . Spiers , P . G . S . B ., inquired if Bro . Clabon had withdrawn the recommendation as to granting marriage portions . Bro . Clabon said he had . Bro . Savage , P . J . D ., said he had already indicated what he

considered would be the proper course , to pursue , but he was told that he could not move that without notice . His lordship , however , had told him that he was at liberty if he saw fit to move the " previous question , " but if he did that and it was carried it would get rid of the matter altogether , which lie bad no desire to do . Ho was aware of the motion of Bro .

Symond s , and not having run it over he felt there would be a difficulty in proposing an amendment of that kind unless notice of it had been given at the Board of Masters . A large number of those who usually attended Grand Lodge had received no notice whatever of this amendment , and therefore he thought it would be much better to adjourn the debate upon this question , and especially so as the attendance was so limited ,

a large number of brethren not being aware of that meeting . Let them have time to consider the subject , for he must say that he had not come to a conclusion upon it , and was not prepared to vote upon it . He wanted time to consider it . He asked on his own behalf and he believed also a very numerous section of the Craft , that they should have time to consider the

subject , and then they would also have the opportunity of giving notices of any amendments they might think necessary to propose at the Board of Masters . As the amendment of Bro . Symonds went beyond this question , and as it applied to the whole of the administration of the Board of Benevolence he moved , as an amendment , the adjournment of the debate to

the December Quarterly Communication . Bro . Grissell , G . D ., seconded the amendment . Many members of the Grand Lodge did not know of that meeting , the AVardens having received no intimation from the Masters that it was to take place , and consequently had no means of giving notices of amendments .

Bro . Stewart opposed any further adjournment . Bro . J . E . Saunders , G . Steward , said , as they were not about to come to any definite vote , the absent brethren could not be taken by surprise ; but simply to put the matter in a train for inves-