United Grand Lodge.

tigatio"n . When the committee brought up their report , if it did not commend itself to the judgment of the brethren , they need not accept their recommendations . If the motion was agreed to that night , to refer the subject to a committee , it would be considerably forwarded . Bro . M . Cooke wanted to know his lordship ' s opinion as to

the propriety of Bro . Savage's amendment . The Grand Master said it was perfectly competent for Bro . Savage to move such an amendment without notice . Any important amendment required that notice of it should be given before the meeting of Grand Lodge , but they were that night only taking up matters not disposed of for want of time at the

last meeting , and not considering new matter . Bro . Warren wished distinctly to state that he should propose an amendment on Bro . Clabon ' s motion , extending the inquiry , if Bro . Savage's amendment was not carried . Bro . Empson said they had met that night to continue with the business left over from the last Grand Lodge by reason of

want of time to get through it , and he hoped they would conclude it that night . Bro . Havers , P . G . W ., said he thought that as they had before them a motion so important , and involving such serious consequences , as they were called together that night for the dispatch of business , it would be unwise to say that they could not

attend to it ; and therefore he hoped that Bro . Savage would not persevere with his amendment As to Bro . Clabon ' s motion , he did not ask the brethren to come to a decision upon it , for it might be a good motion on a good question , and they could refer it for inquiry . He believed that it was impossible to administer any charity without occasionally getting into grave

errors ; but at the same time ho did not believe that any charities were administered more carefully or more economically than their Masonic charities . There was no necessity for delay , and there was no harm in carrying the motion that ni ght . As to the Book of Constitutions , although he was no stickler for words , still he found it stated that " The fund appropriated to the object of benevolence shall be solely devoted to charity . "

Now , the question might be raised whether this fund could be applied in the way proposed , and a question might arise -whether they could dispose of two-thirds of the surplus of their funds without rescinding this rule . Then the third rule said that the distribution and application of this fund should take place on certain days , all of which were matters for

consideration . He believed that it was a thing that ought to be done , and Bro . Clabon did not ask them to decide anything , but only to put it in a train for inquiry . Bro . Hopwood hoped that Bro . Savage would withdraw his amendment , and let the business go on . Bro . Savage said if he did that he did not know what other

amendment might be proposed . Bro . Symonds ' s amendment had been shown to him , and it went immensely beyond what Bro . Clabon proposed . Bro . Hyde Clarke said the meeting had been called for the express purpose of disposing of the business left over at the last Grand Lodge , and all the brethren had had notice of a motion for applying the surplus fund of the Board of Benevolence .

Bro . Bennoch said it appeared to him a doubtful question whether a larger assembly of Grand Lodge could decide more accurately than they could decide that night ; for if they were not to go on that night with the question a great amount of valuable time would have been wasted . Therefore he hoped they would go on with the discussion . The motion for the adjournment of the debate was then put and negatived .

Bro . Symonds expressed his thanks to Bro . Clabon for having taken up the subject , but he thought before coming to any decision upon it at all , details should be thoroughly investigated by a committee . The amendment he should propose had been drawn up by the Grand Registrar , and having discussed it with Bro . Clabon , it met his views , and he then assented to

it ; but that night he took some exception to it . He wished before any conclusion was come to upon it , that the committe should consider the propriety of making alterations in the funds of the Board of Benevolence . To show how strong was his sympathy with Bro . Clabon ' s proposition , he had taken , as members of his committee , the names of all brethren who had

shown an interest in their charities , and were Vice-Presidents . Bro . Savage rose to order . Bro . Symonds's amendment would coyer more ground than Bro . Clabon ' s proposition , and went immensely beyond it . The G . Master ruled that Bro . Symonds was in order .

Bro . Symonds then read his amendment to Bro . Clabon ' s motion : — "That it be referred to the consideration of a committee of fifteen members to be named by the Grand Lodge , and five others to be named by the Grand Master , with instructions to such committee to report to Grand Lodge in December upon the proposed scheme , and generally as to the advisability of making any , and if any , what alterations in the appropriation of the Fund of Benevolence , or in the mode of dealing

therewith . " He said if Bro . Clabon would then state the names he wished to be added , he would adopt them as a portion of his amendment . Bro . Clabon said tbey were Bros . Joseph Smith , Frederick Gales , and Joshua Nunn . Bro . M . Cooke wished to ask a question . If he considered this was not a proper matter before Grand Lodge , when would

be the proper time to take objection to it ? The G . Master : When the committee bring up their report . Bro . Bellerby suggested that Bros . May , Gale , Warren , Brett , and Cotterbrune should be added to the committee . The G . Master suggested that these nominations should be deferred until they had disposed of Bro . Symonds' amendment ,

but at the same time he warned the Grand Lodge against making the committee too large . The amendment was' then put , and carried by a majority of 47 to 24 . On being put by the Grand Master as an original motion , Bro . J . R . Simpson , G . Chaplain , said he thought it very

undesirable that a substantive motion should come as an amendment at the tail of another motion ; and it appeared to him a dangerous precedent if they carried so important a measure in that way . He moved the omission of all the words in Bro . Symonds' amendment after the word " scheme . " Bro . Stewart seconded the amendment . The G . Master then put the questions , when there

appeared—For Bro . Symonds motion 33 Against it 31 Majority 2 It was therefore declared to be carried . There being no further business the Grand Lodge was closed in ample form and with solemn prayer , soon after eleven o'clock .

IF one defrauds you , and exults there-it , he is the most to be pitied of human beings . He has done for himself a much deeper injury than he has done you . It is him whom God regards with mingled displeasure and compassion , and His judgment should be your law . Among all the benedictions of the Holy Mount there is not one for this man .