United Grand Lodge Of England.

That Grand Lodge might understand and appreciate his motives it would be necessary for him to call their attention to some of their proceedings in December last . It would be in the recollection of some of the Brethren present that the resolutions in question were not proposed until a late hour of the evening , and indeed the President of the Board of General Purposes in moving them himself , apologized for the lateness of the hour at which he brought them forward . It would also be in the recollection of the Brethren that when be ( Bro . Whitmore ) moved as an amendment to the second resolution ,

referring the subject back to the Board of General Purposes , that it should be referred back to the Board of twelve members , six to be nominated by the Board of General Purposes , and six by Grand Lodge . That amendment was proposed in perfect accordance with a resolution of his own , carried at a former meeting of Grand Lodge and confirmed not two hours before , in which it was declared lawful for any Brother to propose , without previous notice , any amendment having distinct reference to the business before them . It could not be . denied that his

amendment had distinct reference to the resolution which he moved , but the Most Worshipful Grand Master was pleased with the advice of the Dais , and after a loss of a quarter of an hour spent in a consultation , to decide that it was not competent for him to move that amendment . He ( Bro . Whitmore ) had upon that occasion stated that although he bowed to the decision of the Most Worshipful Grand Master , he at the same time protested against its injustice , and he now stood forward to defend the cause he had taken , and to repeat the expression of his

opinion that the decision was not a just one . ( Murmurs of disapprobation . ) When he said it was not a just decision he disclaimed any intention of being offensive , but it was right they should call things by their proper names . He had to urge against that decision two objections . The first was that it was inexpedient to refer so important a matter as that mentioned in the former resolution to a fluctuating body like the Board of General Purposes , and the second was , that inasmuch as his amendment had been made in accordance with Masonic law , he had by reason of the M . W . Grand Master not putting it , been deprived of his right as an independent member of Grand Lodge . The M . W . Grand Master said that it was incompetent for him to move his amendment , because it trenched upon functions of the Board of General Purposes . The rule of the Book

of Constitutions which gave the Board of General Purposes the direction of everything relating to the buildings and furniture of Grand Lodge , stated that no extraordinary expense of any kind should be incurred without the previous sanction of Grand Lodge . That last sentence jusl ified his amendment , as it showed that Grand Lodge had the power to direct the Board of General Purposes . Was ' it not then very extraordinary , that on the very first occasion on which he proposed to act upon the law of Grand Lodge in reference to amendments having a direct bearing upon the business

before them , he should have been met by the M . W . the Grrad Master with a refusal to put his motion ? He maintained that on that law he was perfectly justified in making the proposition he had made , and he defied any brother present , by any amount of sophistry , or any amount of special pleading , to prove that he was not so justified . The very first resolution of Bro . Havers recognized the principle for which he was contending , namely , that Grand Lodge was competent to refer the consideration of the matter to anyother body as well as the Board of General Purposes . He saw

that Bro . Havers shook his head , but still the case was so , and innumerable instances might be quoted to prove that Grand Lodge had at all times possessed a power of supervision over the proceedings of the Board of General Purposes . ( Hear , hear . ) He knew there was a vast deal of business to be that evening disposed of , and he was therefore unwilling to further occupy their attention ; nor would he at all have trespassed upon their time , were it not that on his conscience and on his soul he believed the prerogatives . of the independent members of Grand Lodge were perilled . ( Laughter . )

He could now refer to a period of twenty-five years spent in Masonry , and he boldly asked any one to point to a single act of his inconsistent with the tenets of the Craft . He cared for- no man ' s displeasure , and he courted no man ' s favour , and so long as he had power to do so , he would stand up , if he were to stand up alone , and support the privileges of the brethren in Grand Lodge . If Grand Lodge now confirmed the resolutions to which he objected , they would give the executive the power to put whatever interpret tation they wished upon the laws of the Craft . ( Nono . ) He

, must be met by better arguments than " no ! no I" and he should like some brother to prove to him , that the G . M . had the power to say that he would not put an amendment which was in perfect conformity with Masonic law . Taking the assumption that he was not justified , he would ask them , were they prepared to confirm the

minutes ? ( Time ! time !) Brethren might cry "time , time , " but in debating a matter like that before Grand Lodge , time was well spent ; and if he occupied six or ten evenings and succeeded in preserving the privileges and prerogatives of the independent members of the Grand Lodge , he should feel the time had not been wasted , but that he had conferred a benefit upon the Craft . — ( Laughter . ) He wanted to know if it could be made apparent to him , that the Grand Master was justified in refusing to put his amendment . He took his stand on the Book of Constitutions , and

asked Grand Lodge to decide whether he was right or wrong . — ( Cheers . ) Bro . GEO . BARRETT seconded the amendment . The M . W . GRAND MASTER then said , Brethren , as I have been asked certain questions by Bro . Whitmore , and as my decision upon a motion of his has been impugned by him , it is my duty to rise to answer his questions , and give him the explanation he asks . I assure you I shall not occupy one-tenth the time which he has done , and I hope to answer his questionsand confirm the justice of

, my decision in a manner that few members of Grand Lodge will question . Some I have no doubt will . ( Laughter . ) I adhere entirely to my decision , and I am prepared to justify it . ( Cheers . ) Indeed , there is no one decision of mine , of the justice of which I am more confident , and I shall now very shortly lay before you my reasons for it . Bro . Whitmore moved a resolution to add certain members to the Board of General Purposes , for the purpose he has mentioned to you . The law says that the Board of General Purposes has the direction of every thing relating to the furniture and building of

Grand Lodge ; and the next clause says , that the Board has likewise the care and regulation of all the concerns of Grand Lodge . Now , brethren , I maintain that it was not competent for him to move such an amendment without first rescinding those laws . Bro . Whitmore quotes the Book of Constitutions , that Grand Lodge alone has the inherent power of enacting laws and regulations for the government of the Craft , and of altering , repealing , and abrogating them , always taking care that the ancient landmarks of the Order be preserved . That clause is the ample justification of

my decision . I do not deny the right of Grand Lodge to make what alterations it may please with regard to the powers of the Board of General Purposes , or of any other Board ; but I do say , that in order to have enabled him to put his amendment , he should have looked to this law , and regularly proposed the appointment of a new

Board , to take charge of the furniture and building of Grand Lodge , before ho ventured to take that power from the Board of General Purposes . ( Cheers . ) If my interpretation of the law is not the correct one , I must give up all attempts to interpret the laws of the Craft ; but as 1 have already said , I feel more confident of the justice of this decision , more than any other I have here laid down , and I still hold myself confidently to that decision . Bro . BINCKES was proceeding to address Grand Lodge , when—The M . W . GRAND MASTER interposed and saidI put it to Bro

, . Binckes , whether , after my decision has been impugned and that I have explained it , it is right for him to continue to discuss it . Bro . BINCKES considered this a great constitutional question , involving the rights of the Craft , else he would not have ventured to take part in the discussion of it . The Most Worshipful Grand Master had thought it right to quote words from the Book of Constitutions by which he wished to be judged , but if he read the words that followed those which he had quoted , and considered them , he wouldhe to different

, thought , come a opinion . Bro . ROXBOHRGII rose to order . The M . W . Grand Master ruled that a certain interpretation of a certain law was the correct one , and had explained his reasons for doing so , and the Brethren were therefore bound to yield obedience to that decision . If the law was so ambiguous as to admit of a second interpretation , their duty was to amend it , but no brother had a right to occupy the time of Grand Lodge in canvassing the decision of the Grand Master . Bro . BINCKES regretted Bro . Roxbourg had not waited for a few

minutes to hear his ( Bro . Binckes ' s ) observations . Bro . ROXBOURG held that Grand Lodge could not discuss the propriety of the Grand Master ' s decision , and he hoped his lordship would , if it were persevered in , exercise his authority and put it down at once . The M . W . GRAND MASTER : —I may perhaps save the time of Grand Lodge by anticipating Bro . Binckes and reading the remainder of the clause to which he has referred . It is as follows : " The Grand Lodge has also the power of investigatingregulating

, , and deciding all matters relative to the Craft , or to particular Lodges , or to individual Brethren , which it may exercise cither of itself , or by such delegated authority as in its wisdom and discretion it may appoint . " Now , there is nothing there about the building and furniture , and as it says nothing of taking away from the Board of