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A GRAND LODGE OF EMERGENCY was held Ji . on the 11 th ultimo , -which was presided oyer by the M . W . the G . M . in person . The great feature of the evening was the presence of LORD PANMTJBE ; whose appearance is , we trust , an earnest of increased efficiency in the Executive . The noble Brother may reckon on the sympathy and support

of that large and increasing " party "—who are determined on freedom of discussion , the constitutional supremacy of G . L ., and something like habits of business on the part of the Administration . A return was ordered on the Rev . Bro . PORTAL ' motionfrom the Prov . G . L . of Canada West—showing

, the number of P . G . Lodges held during the last ten years , and at how many the P . G . M . has presided in person . Bro . DOBTE wished it to come in the form of a request to the M . W . the G . M . ; to which Bro . PORTAL objected , as calling in question the power of G . L . ; and on a divisionthe motion as it originally stood was

, carried . The Grand Officers—including the Minister for War—with true military precision faced to the right , and voted unanimously against the motion ; with the single honorable / exception of the W . Bro . SPIKES , P . G . S , B . * "

A similar return was then ordered from the P . G . Lodges in England , after a slight modification in the form of the motion , at the suggestion of the R . W . Bro . BEADON . Bro . The EARL of CARNARVON then moved , that a statement of the principles of the Order should be sent to those Lodgeswhose members are suffering

persecu-, tion at the hands of the Roman Catholic hierarchy , with a view to the removal of the prevailing misapprehensions respecting Freemasonry . This was opposed by several brethren , and after a long debate was negatived . He also accused the Executive of leaving unanswered , for monthsa communication from "Grand Orient" on

, this subject ; to which unanswerable charge no answer was given . W . Bro . J . SYMONDS withdrew a motion of which he had given , notice , relative to the confirmation of the minutes . W . Bro . G . BARRETT then moved" That instruction

, be given to the Board of General Purposes to report the present Income of the Fund of Benevolence , and to recommend how the surplus may be usefully and legally applied . " This was opposed by W . Bro . SAVAGE , and was negatived .

W . Bro . JOHN HERVEY then moved , "At page 93 , Book of Constitutions ( Edition 1855 ) , Art . G , line 15 , to insert after the word ' shall , ' the following words , ' visit the petitioner at his own residence , and afterwards : '" which , having been , seconded , was carried . Bro . MASON next proposed that G . L . should have a virtual power of adjournment ; Bro . STEBBING being

desirous that the day should be fixed by the G . M . This was opposed on the ground , that it involved a want of confidence in the G . M ., who would always summon a special Grand Lodge , if a wish were generally expressed to that effect . The M . W . the G . M . saidhe should regard this

, motion if carried , as a vote of want of confidence : and on a . show of hands , it was declared to be lost . After some unimportant motions had been disposed of , it being 11 o ' clock , G .- L . was closed with solemn prayer , and adjourned .

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I ORD MELBOURNE used to say that the bishops died . J to plague him . We are not sufficientl y in the secrets of the Right Rev . Bench to know how far this statement was correct , but if we wanted any evidence as to the disagreeable nature of polemical theology , we undoubtedlhave it in the long debate which ies

y occup so [ great a portion of oar space in this number . I At the same time we think that great credit is due to Lord CARNARVON for the strai ghtforward and manly way in which he set himself to grajrole with a subject , of the delicacy of which he could not well have been ignorant .

For some time past there have been complaints from Roman Catholic Masons in the Mauritius , Trinidad , Malta , and other places , of the treatment they have received from their Bishops—all the penalties " of excommunication having been enforced against them—and they have appealed to G . L . to afford them its assistance .

In answer to these appeals Lord CARNARVON proposed to furnish them with a brief statement of the true principles of the Order , to be used as they thought best . This very simple plan , which would probably have diasbused the minds of the Roman Authorities of their prejudiceswas met by the set opposition of the Dais

, . The " great emotion" under which Bro . HAVERS spoke can scarcely excuse the bitter tone which he contrived to introduce into the debate . We are not aware whether or no Bro . HAVERS considered himself bound to defend the acts of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy , ' but