Grand Lodge.

returned to Grand Lodge in a few days . The next was No . 751 , Prince Edwin ' s Lodge , Eye , Suffolk . It had not met since 1852 , and the remaining members had determined not to make any exertions to revive it , and the D . Prov . G . M ., the W . Bro . Fleming , reported that it might be already considered as defunct . He then came to 765 , the Roden Lodge , Wem , in the province of North Wales and Shropshire , the

Prov . Grand Master of which ( Bro . Sir Watkin Wynn ) they had the pleasure of having among them that evening acting as D . Grand Master . The Prov . Grand Secretary reported that the Lodge was defunct , and that there was no prospect of reviving it . The next was No . 806 , Castlemartin Lodge , Pembroke , South Wales , which the Prov . Grand Master ( Bro . Johnes ) reported as also defunct . He now came to the

last on the list , No . 878 , the Mariners' Lodge , Littlehampton , which had occupied their attention in the early part of the evening—the Lodge having fallen into difficulties and the warrant being in the hands of the Secretary who was the keeper of the house where the Lodge had been held—both the last Master of the Lodge ( Bro . Cheriman ) and the D . Prov . Grand Master recommended that under the

circumstances the Lodge should be erased , as the only means of resuscitating Masonry in Littlehampton . The R . W . brother concluded by moving a formal resolution for the erasure of the Lodges . Bro . Hop wood , P . G . D ., seconded the motion , which was carried nan . con . All business being ended , Grand Lodge was closed in due form .

Special Grand Lodge.

SPECIAL GRAND LODGE .

On Thursday , June 23 rd , 1859 , an especial Grand Lodge was held , to proceed with the business proposed and intended for consideration at the last quarterly communication , but which time did not permit of being then brought forward . The M . W . Grand Master , the Eight Honourable the Earl of Zetland presided on the throne ; and among the Grand Officers present were the R . W . Deputy Grand Master , Lord Panmure ; Lord de Ttibley , S . G . W . BrosFrederick DundasPGW JGWSTonikins

; . , ..., as ... ; . G . Treas . ; Roxburgh , G . Reg . ; W . G . Clarke , G . Sec ; Savage , S . G . D . ; Slight , J . G . D . ; Rev Wentworth Bowyer , G . Chaplain : Jennings , G . D . C . ; Woods , Assist . G . D . C . ; Pocock , G . S . B . ; Farufield , Assist . G . Sec . ; C . P . Cooper , Prov . G . M ., Kent ; Col . Ramsay , Prov . G . M ., Bengal ; Col . Brownrigg , P . G . W . ; Pattison , P . G . W . ; W . H . White , P . G . Sec . ; Rev . J . E . Cox , P . G . Chaplain ; Havers , P . G . D ., President of the Board of General Purposes ; Wilson , P . G . D . ; & a . Grand Lodhaving been opened in ample formand with solemn

ge , prayer , Bro . W . Gray Clarke , Grand Secretary , read the notice convening the meeting , and then said—M . W . Grand Master , as the first business to come before Grand Lodge is personal to myself , I have to request permission to retire while the discussion is going on , as my presence might interfere with the freedom of discussion . The M . W . Grand Master having granted the requisite permission , Bro . Gray Clarke withdrew .

THE GRAND SECRETARY ' S SALARY . Bro . Havers , President of the Board of General Purposes , resumed the debate upon the report of that Board , commencing with the following paragraph : — " The . Board have had their attention directed to the present duties of the officers in the Grand Secretary's department , and they are of opinion that the salary of the Grand Secretary is inadequateand is not a sufficient remuneration for

, a gentleman who , owing to the increase of work , is compelled to devote the whole of his time to the duties of the office , and they recommend to Grand Lodge that the salary of the Grand Secretary be raised to £ 400 per annum , the Board further recommended that the salary of the second clerk ( Bro . Buss ) be raised to £ 150 per annum ; and that such increase of salaries shall take place from the 1 st January , 1859 . " Bro . Havers then moved , pro forma , that the Grand Secretary ' s salary be increased as recommended .

Bro . Smith , G . Purs ., seconded the motion , and said—Before I state the reasons for this vote , I think it right to state that the Grand Secretary himself has been no party to this arrangement , in any way whatever . ( Hear , hear . ) He has not in any shape , influenced me , or any of the Brethren at that Board . On the appointment of Bro . Gray Clarke to this office , it was contemplated to increase his salary , and I was consulted on the subject . I thought it should come before the Board of General Purposes before it came before this Grand Lod I consented to bring it before ttie Board of General Purposes

ge . , and I did so . I moved for a committee of that Board something like two years ago , and on that committee were Bros . Dobie , Havers , John Harvey , S . Barton Wilson , White , and Henderson ( Grand Eegistrar . ) I found that the Grand Secretary did not receive the same salary as the late Grand Secretary , and 1 thought that if he was worthy to be honoured with the appointment , he was worthy also to receive the salary , and the committee agreed to a rccom- < meudation to that effectBroDobiethe President of that

commit-. . , tee , thought £ 500 a-year would not be too much for the salary of the Grand Secretary of the Freemasons , but we eventually were unanimous in recommending £ 400 . The matter was referred back to the committee by the Board of General Purposes , and two Brethren were added to it . We had a discussion again , and-in bringing up the report the committee was not unanimous , some thinking it not prudent to make any such recommendation to Grand Lodge just then . Howeverwhen the report came to this Grand Lodgeit thought

, , proper not to agree , and Bro . Farrdield and the junior clerk had their salaries increased , while Bro . Gray Clarke and Bro . Buss ( two excellent Brethren ) were passed over . The matter was again brought before the Board of General Purposes , and in doing so I shewed that I thought a great act of injustice had been committed towards our Grand Secretary , seeing that our assistant Grand Secretary received a larger salary than the Grand Secretary . That I could not understandalthough the Assistant Secretary's addition was made for long

, and faithful services . ( Hear , hear . ) Perhaps I may be told that although the present Grand Secretary receives only £ 300 , while the late Grand Secretary received £ 400 , that £ 100 of tho £ 400 was a gratuity for lengthened services . ( Hear , hear . ) Still , it was nevertheless £ 400 for services rendered to the Craft ; and if Bro . White had asked for £ 600 or even £ 800 , ho would have got it . ( Oh ! oh ! " order , " and " question . " ) What I mean is , that if he had wanted

more he could have had it . Now we have not heard any Brother find fault with tho present Grand Secretary , ( hear , hear ) , and Jf he is worthy to fill the late Grand Secretary ' s office , he is worthy to have the late Grand Secretary ' s salary , although I fear we shall not be unanimous on the subject ( hear , hear , and a laugh ) , because , owing to certain circumstances we have not been so unanimous lately as we might have been . He does not hold any other appointment ; every one knows where to find him , for he is always at his post . As Masonry is fast increasingso his labours have vastlextendedso

, y , that he has often to take some of his work home and go on with it tiil ten or eleven o ' clock . Every Brother who has had occasion to call upon him must admit how ready he always is to give his assistance , and his time is greatly taken up by the calls which are made . I hope Grand Lodge will accede to this motion , although I could have wished that the matter had fallen into abler hands than mine . ( Applause . ) Bro . Stebbiilg said he was this matter had been brought

forsorry ward so prematurely . He hoped Bro . Havers would withdraw the motion and not let them pay so poor a compliment to Bro . White , as to give to Bro . Gray Clarke , after eighteen months' service , the same salary which Bro . White had after thirty-five years . He was sure that the poorer brethren would see witli regret such a motion passed , as it would consume a sum which would suffice for five annuities . As to Bro . Famfield his salary had not been increased , but a gratuity of £ 100 , in addition to his salary , had been granted him for lengthened

service . He would have no objection to give Bro . Gray Clarke some extra salary when—he hoped the day would be very far distant—it might please the G . A . O . T . TJ . to take Bro . White . ( Loud cries of " Oh , oh ! " ) At any rate he ought to serve five or ten years , and then be rewarded ; it was rather too early , after eighteen months , to ask for an increase of twenty-five per cent , on his salary ; and if they granted it he thought they would excite great dissatisfaction , especiallas BroClarke took office on the understanding that £ 300 was

y . the salary . Bro . Symonds—Bro . Stebbing has not ventured to say that he thinks £ 400 a year to be too much for any gentleman who devotes the whole of his time to the duties of his office ; his only argument is , that Bro White received only £ 300 a year up to the point of his retirement . But he has not stated that Bro . White had another appointment , the Secretaryship of the Artillery Company . It was an appointment worth his holding , and of course it prevented his giving