Grand Lodge.

Board was constituted to prevent delay in G . L . by giving a speedy reading and consideration to all papers that might come from the colonies , and only to report that they had arrived and what they contained , but to leave to Grand Lodge the privilege of deciding upon them . It was not constituted either to lay down the law or to make the slightest suggestion to G . L ., or to blame by imputation any of its officers . If committees were thus to pronounce upon most important subjects , you would completely do away with the necessity for Grand Lodge at all . Under all these circumstances I

agree with Bro . Havers , that although we might send the report back to the Colonial Board , it would not be so courteous a proceeding as the motion which he has submitted to us . We are bound to give all possible attention to all such portions of that report as legitimately fell within the compass of the duty of the Colonial Board ; but we are not bound to come to the opinion of that Board in reference to a matter the most grave that can possibly come before G . L . I refrain from entering into the merits of the dispute itself , as we do not know how we can terminate it until we get better

acquainted with the subject . I therefore most cheerfully agree with that portion of the report , which says , that in the absence of all official information , Grand Lodge ought to delay all further action : hut surely that is not done when we are asked to adopt four paragraphs which refer to what has already occurred . I believe it my duty to make these few observations before putting the question to G . L ., whether they will adopt the whole report or only a portion of it . The amendment was then put and declared to be lost . The original motion was then put and carried .

DEPUTY PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTERS . W . Bro . STEBBING then moved "That all Deputy Provincial Grand Masters be entitled to appear in Grand Lodge in the Clothing of their Office , and to take their seats on the Dais , and to rank after Past Grand Secretaries ; " and said , that in the provinces , inasmuch as the Provincial Grand Masters seldom acted , most laborious duties fell upon the D . P . G . M . ' s . He might , however , except his own province , Hampshire , which was most ably presided over by

the Rt . W . Bro . ( Sir Lucius Curtis ) at the right of D . G . M . Yet when that Rt . W . Bro . was second in command in the Mediterranean Fleet , his Deputy most efficiently performed all the Masonic duties of the office . He had , in Hampshire , all the authority of a D . G . M ., but when he came to Grand Lodge he was allowed neither the dignity , the clothing , or the position , which he ought to have . It would be considered a great boon and privilege if those veterans in the cause of Freemasonry were allowed , when they came to Grand Lodge , to take their seats on the Dais , in their proper clothing , and

not in the body of the Lodge , side by side with the very men over whom they ruled in their provinces . He had fixed their rank as next after the G . Sees ., but if G . L . would adopt the principle of his motion , he would most willingly concur in any suggestion which might bo made upon that point . He asked nothing but a well deserved compliment to a most meritorious set of brothers . W . Bro . ADLARD seconded the motion . The D . G . M . —Before I put this motion I would draw attention to the fact that while it professes to a compliment to the

pay D . P . G . M . ' s , it in reality makes one of the greatest and most fundamental alterations that G . L . could adopt . I am right in stating that the dais is composed of certain officers nominated by the G . M ., and of certain brethren who are allowed that position , from having in former years filled those offices . Now the effect of this motion will be to enable brethren to take their seats upon the dais , who have not been nominated to Grand Office , by the Grand Master . If Deputy Provincial Grand Masters are to ' have a seat there , let the

G . M . nominate them ; but there is a great advantage in not conceding to the G . M . that right . On the other hand it is highly advantageous that a P . G . M . should have the power of nominating a deputy , with whose character he is fully acquainted , and to whose hands he can safely entrust the working of his Provincial Lodge . The character , energy , and zeal , of the D . P . G . M . ' s are beyond all doubt , and no one would bear more willing testimony to them than I should be ready to do ; but I cannot agree to the principle that any one not appointed by the G . M . should sit on this dais . The motion was then negatived .

MASTERS OF COUNTRY LODGES—THEIR ADDRESS . W . Bro . H . G . WARREN , in the absence of Bro . WICCINTON next moved , " That in future the names of Masters of Country Lodges be not entered on the Books of Grand Lodge without their addresses , to which all communications from Grand Lodge shall be addressed , in order to prevent , as far as possible , the loss of such communications . " He said that the object of the motion was to ensure the

receipt of the communications from Grand Lodge , a thing the more desirable as it had been lately carried , that a notice not only of the holding of the Grand Lodge , but of the business to be transacted at it should be sent to each country Lodge . W . Bro . STEBBING seconded the motion . W . Bro . EVANS , P . G . S . B ., said , that while the motion was intended to ensure the co-operation of the representatives of the country lodges , at Grand Lodge , it would actually disfranchise the larger number of them .

The D . G . M . in putting the motion remarked , that if notice of Masonic business were sent to the private address of the Master of a country lodge , instead of to the place where the lodge met , it would run the risk of being mixed up with the papers connected with his evcry-day business , and so be lost sight of . The motion was then negatived . THE BRETHREN IN INDIA . The D . G . M . —Brethren , I am now come to the end of the notice

paper , and I have to place upon it , by the directions of the G . M ., a notice referring to a most painful subject , which G . L . will hear with regret and sorrow . We have all lately seen perpetrated in the East Indies scenes of atrocity which ought to make us blush for human nature . It cannot be doubted that in many of those places where mutinies have broken out , where murders have been committed , where property has been invaded , and where distress of all kinds most prevail , great sufferings are been endured , which the charity of Masons ought to be the first to relieve . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . )

I am therefore instructed by the G . M . to give notice , in his name , to the next meeting of G . L ., that he will move that a grant be made from the funds of G . L ., m aid of the suffering of our Brethren in India . ( Hear , hear . ) W . Bro . MASON was sure that every Mason would respond to the appeal to be made them ; but as a good thing could not be done too soon , he would suggest that they should have , for the purpose of making the grant , a Grand Lodge of Emergency . All Masonic business having terminated , the Grand Lodge was then closed in due form .

Ar01001

THE following are the papers ¦ which were ordered hy Grand Lodge to be printed as an Appendix to the Report of the Colonial Board . [ A ] " Freemasons' Hall , London , 18 th March , 1857 .

"K . W . Brother , "I am commanded by the M . W . Grand Master the Earl of ZETLAND , to assure you of the great anxiety he has ever entertained to maintain the welfare and integrity of the Craft in all its branches . The unfortunate differences which have existed in the Canadas have received his most mature and deliberate consideration , and he felt himself called upon to state the result of those deliberations to the Grand Lodge at their meeting on the 4 th instant . That no difficulty or question should arise as to the exact statement which the Grand

Master desired to make , his Lordship committed his communication to writing and himself read it to the Grand Lodge . Of that statement , by his Lordship ' s command , I now enclose you a faithful transcript : " ' 1 . With regard to the Canadas , I regret as much as auy one the present position of affairs ; and I frankly confess that I cannot but feel that our Canadian Brethren complain , with some degree of truth , that they have not received at our hands all that consideration which they might have reasonably expected . I do not see that any

advantage would arise now from re-opening the subject of their complaints ; the chief and great object now is to amend past shortcomings , and to endeavour to get matters to run more smoothly for the future . I am bound to say , however , that I was not acquainted with the whole state of affairs relating to Canada West when I addressed Grand Lodge on a former occasion , and that there has been some confusion with reference to the so called Independent Grand Lod ge of Canada and the Provincial Grand Lodge of the same place . With the former , need have to do

I hardly say , we can nothing ; they have thrown off their allegiance to the Grand Lodge of England , and that without returning the Warrants which they hold under it ; to them I applied the term ' rebellions , ' and I think Grand Lodge will agree with me that I did not unjustly apply that term . " ' 2 . Since then I have carefully considered the subject ; I have given it the best attention in my power ; and 1 have come to the conclusion that I may , without any sacrifice of the privileges with which I am invested as your Grand Master , make such a concession to them and to their wants as will satisfy them , in order that I may