Masonic Mems.

MASONIC MEMS .

THE MASONIC MIBROR . * * * All communications to be addressed to 19 , Salisbury-street , " Strand , London , W . C .

THE next annual meeting of tbe Provincial Grand lodge of Cornwall is to be held at Liskeard on Tuesday , tbe 23 vd me , at 10 a . m . The R . W . Bro . Augustus Smith , Prov . G . Master , Avill preside . An annuitant Avill be elected for the benefit of the Cormvall Masonic Annuity Fund , and othor business of importance will bo transacted . Bro . the Eev . Dr . Treffry is

expected to preach . THE foundation stone of the Eoyal Albert Asylum for Idiots and Imbeciles of the Northern Counties , will be laid by the Eight Hon . the Earl of Zetland , K . T ., at Lancaster , on June 17 th . The M . W . Grand Master will hold an especial Grand Lodge at the Palatine Hall , Lancaster , at one o ' clock

precisely , prior to the ceremony . THE Prov . G . M . for Kent , Bro . Viscount Holniesdale , ilf . P . has called a preparatory meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Kent , to be holden at the Eose Hotel , Canterbury , on Wednesday next , the 17 th inst ., to make arrangements for the usua l Grand Festival .

SOMEBSET . —A Provincial Grand Lodge will be held at the George Hotel , Glastonbury , on Tuesday , the 16 th inst . The Provincial Grand Lodge will open at high twelve precisely , and proceed to visit the Lodge of Pilgrims , Glastonbury .

United Geand Lodge.

UNITED GEAND LODGE .

In our last week ' s number Ave inserted the report of the Board of General Purposes , and the following discussion arose upon it , which we wore last week unable to find room for . THE JOEDAS - LODGE ( NO . 201 ) . The President of the Board ( Bro . L . Evans ) said he hacl to call the attention of Grand Lodge to tbe second paragraph iu

the report , and which concluded with a resolution AA'hich the Board proposed for the adoption of the Grand Lodge . The subject , he believed , hacl been so fairly stated in tlie report that he had only to add a few observations to what he did not choose to put into it . From the evidence brought before the Board ifc appeared that not only bad seven jiersons been

initiated , but had all been obligated at one and the same time , which he felt Avas a very reprehensible practice , and from the punishment which had been received by tbe Jordan Lodge , if such should prevail in other lodges , ho trusted they voould see that such a practice could not conduce to the interests of Freemasonry , if the ceremonies were not conducted in a decent and

proper manner . It was bis firm and decided opinion that every candidate should be introduced and obligated separately to keep up tbe dignity and importance of the Order . He believed , however , that by the suspension that had taken place of the Jordan Lodgo that it had been sufficiently punished , without resorting to tbe penalty of erasure . The question the Board

had to consider for such an offence was not one merely of suspension , but of erasure , and under all tbe circumstances the Board , taking a merciful vieiv of the case , did not recommend erasure , trusting that what had taken place AVOUICI be a warning to them to conduct their ceremonies decently and in order , and in conformity with the "Book of Constitutions , " more closely than tbey hacl hitherto clone . He moved— " That , under the circumstances , the penalty of erasure , as regards the Jordan

Lodge ( No . 201 ) , be remitted , but that the suspension of the said lodge be continued , with power to the Board of General Purposes to remove the same on due submission being made , and on such conditions as the Board may seem fit to impose . " Bro . Savage , P . G . D ., in seconding the motion , saicl he entirely endorsed all the observations made by the President of the

Board of General Purposes as to the irregularities of the Jordan Lodge . He agreed that the extreme penalty should not be carried out , and he should have much regretted if such a conclusion had been arrived at ; bufc that great irregularities had been committed he felt certain . Two great Incites had been committed by tbe Jordan Lodge—first , in initiating seven

brethren at the same time without a dispensation from the Grand Master , and contrary to the " Book of Constitutions , " as they must have known there was a limit to the number to be initiated , and which they ought not to have exceeded . Therefore , in doing so , there was a great breach of Masonic law , but there was a still greater one in obligating all these

candidatesat tho same time . He was thoroughly astonished when the fact came out in evidence , for it Avas a proceeding most objectionable in every sense of the Avord . For his part he objected to seven , five , or even two candidates being obligated at the same time ; and although he had heard of it being clone before , he considered that it was most objectionable , for it was his opinion thafc

in the interest of their Order every candidate should be obligated separately . Although there was no written law , there was an unwritten law , which was well known , upon the subject , that two candidates should not be obligated together .

Bro . Bedford , P . G . Chap ., denied the irregularity , and saicl at the institution of their Order K . S . did not stop to inquire or consider whether his candidates should be obligated one by one ; . and he believed that nothing would tend more to promote irregularity than an undue straining of the written law of Freemasonry .

Bro . Havers , P . G . W ., saicl they wore not in the same position as they were in the days of K . S ., their first Grand Master , and what might have been wise in his time could not be adopted at tho present . He ( Bro . Havers ) hacl been a member of the Jordan Lodge , and when he Avas in the chair they did not have present more than three or four members , and they

often hacl to get two or tliree waiters to make up the number of a lodge . He held , however , that nothing conduced more to keep up the state and dignity of Freemasonry than by giving a due formality , solemnity , and respect to tho first ceremony of initiation , ancl he hoped that tbey would adhere to their traditions .

Bro . Winn , as an olcl member , was understood to say , amidst some confusion that prevailed , that with a large amount of business to get through , the principle laid down of only obligating one candidate at a time could not always be adhered to . Bro . Victor Williamson , P . G . W ., saicl he agreed that , under ordinary circumstances , the obligation to each candidate should

bo administered separately , but at the same time he agreed Avith 3 ro . Bedford thafc they should not be in a hurry to pass stringent resolutions , which might disturb the harmony which ivas noAV the distinguishing feature of Freemasonry . If they were to adopt the recommendation now made as anile , Avhich it Avas said was an unwritten law , life would be too short for a

W . Master to perform his duties . Let them discourage the practice as a rule , but not pass a hard line , like the law of tlie Medes and Persians . Let them leave the W . Master to possess the power , but at the same time to use it very sparingly . In this case the irregularities were pointed out , but tbey were persevered in , and therefore he Avas in favour of the recommendation of the Board of General Purposes .