United Grand Lodge Ofengland.

Bro . William Russell thought it was lime that the Craft had a home worthy of the Freemasons of England , and he suggested that an entirely new structure should be built in some noble thoroughfare , and not practicall y in a side street . The body was a rich one , and there would not be the slightest difficulty in raising money by debentures bearing a

moderate rate of interest , in order lo enable the Craft to erect a building which would be worthy of them . Bro . Martin , Deputy Prov . G . M . of Berkshire , said he was only too glad to think that the proposed arrangement with Messrs . Lyons had fallen through , as it gave an opportunity

to the Craft which they had not had before . Therefore , it was an ill wind which blew no good . He congratulated the Grand Registrar in proposing that a Special Committee should be formed to consider this important question , and hoped that a building would be erected which would

accommodate all those who were entitled to attend Grand Lodge . The time had now arrived when they ought to consider the whole matter fairly , and to erect a building which would be worthy of the Craft , and , if they thought it desirable , a club also .

The resolution , as amended , was put and carried unanimously , and Grand Lodge then elected Bros . Stanley Attenborough , Lieut .-Col . Clifford Probyn , and Martin , Deputy Prov . Grand Master of Berkshire , to serve on this Committee .

V . W . Bro . Edward Terry ( P . G . Treasurer ) , then proposed that a donation of . £ 500 be made by Grand Lodge to the special fund now being raised for Charing Cross Hospital . He said : " It is with very great regret that I have to appeal to the members of my Craft , and yet it is with a great deal of pride that in my position as a member of the executive of Charing

Cross Hospital that it has been placed in my hands to make ( his proposilion . We are not without hope that ( he sum of money required to complete the hospital will be obtained ; Guy ' s and King ' s College Hospitals have both had very handsome donations made to them , and when I tell you that the present financial position of Charing Cross Hospital is in a

serious state , I am sure you will all sympathise with me in the proposition which I make . If this special appeal which we are sending out does not succeed—as I hope and trust it will succeed—we shall have to close two wards in the

hospital , which will be a great deprivation to many poor creatures in this very much crowded neighbourhood . No one can feel it more than those surrounding Grand Lodge , and I am told that a Lodge in the vicinity which has only been in existence for a very few years , has voted the sum of 100 guineas towards the needs of the hospital . I beg to

propose the resolution which I have read , and I shall be very pleased if some Brother in the body of the hall will second the proposition . " The resolution was put and carried with one dissentient . W . Bro . Charles F . Quicke ( P . M ., 1531 ) , proposed the

following resolution : —'' That in all future elections for Grand Treasurer , the issuing of circulars by the candidates or their supporters shall disqualify the candidate by whom , or on

whose behalf , such circulars are issued or sent out . " He said he desired to take the sense of the meeting as to the recent issue of literature and circulars on behalf of candidates for the post of Grand Treasuier . He had always held the opinion that the election of Grand Treasurer by the Craft should be abolished , and that he should be appointed under

certain qualifications by the Grand Master , like other Grand Officers . Grand Lodge had decided otherwise , so they have no alternative but ( o make ( he election as fair and

unostentatious as possible . It the literature was to be sent out 111 the way it had been , it was felt by the brethren that an undue advantage was placed in the hands of a wealthy brother who stood for that position . It was felt that beyond the issuing of papers bv Grand Lodge which contain the qualifications of all the candidates for the post of Grand Treasurer , any

surplus literature was not required . When they get their ballot paper it contained the name and age of the brother , the number of years he had been a Mason , and what he had done for the good of Freemasonry . Any brother reading the paper thus given to him would have all the information he required , and there would be no necessity in future for the

issue of literature on behalf of any particular candidate . He offered his unqualified congratulation to the eminent brother who had been elected Grand Treasuier that evening , though he was sure that he , with the other candidates , would have much preferred that such a large amount of money should not have been expended on the contest , but that the matter

should have been left to the unbiassed opinion of the brethren , founded upon the information contained in the ballot papers issued by Grand Lodge . After some remarks by the Grand Registrar and other brethren to the effect that it was practically impossible to

suppress the issue of such circulars , the motion was put and lost by an overwhelming majority . Bro . R . Manuel took exception , on a point of order , to the resolution that had been carried in reference to the

appointment of a committee to deal with ( he matter of Freemasons' Tavern , on the ground that the Book of Constitutions says that a notice must be previously given to the Grand Secretary before the Report of the Board of General Purposes can be set aside in dealing with the question of the future of the premises . Rule 265 said

" Except when otherwise specially directed b y resolution of the Grand Lodge , the Board has the direction of everything relating to the buildings and furniture of the Grand Lodge and may suggest any alterations or improvements . " If it was introduced as an addition to the agenda paper and

carried without notice , the effect of it would be simply to wipe out of existence the Board of General Purposes ; at least that was the opinion of many members whom he had spoken to upon the subject . The Pro Grand Master did not think the point of order was worth considering . The suggestion met with the

approval of Grand Lodge , and it got them out of a serious difficulty . Grand Lodge was then closed in ample for . n .

Ar00501

We regret to record the death of Bro . Henry Massey , who for the past thirty years or more has perhaps been the most familiar figure at lodges and other Masonic gatherings in London . As a journalist he long ago associated himself with the Masonic press , and has probably

recorded more of the things of the Craft than any of his confreres . Bro . Massey was equally well known in the Parliamentary Press Gallery and in the Law Courts , and until recently had been the officially-appointed reporter of the proceedings of Grand Lodge . He , however , a year or two

since fell a victim to ( he newly-born zeal of the authorities in suppressing the publication of reports which they considered improper to publish , with the result that he ceased to act as 'Grand Lodge reporter , and for a time was not present at any

Masonic meetings . This , however , did not lessen his Masonic

zeal or his love of the Craft of which he remained a Ioya and respected member . Bro . Massey was initiated in the Beadon Lodge , No . 619 , in the year 1864 , and filled the Master ' s Chair in 1868 . He was also a founder and the lirst Master of the Gallery Lodge , No . 1928 , which was constituted

in 1881 , of which as well as his mother lodge he remained a member until his death . Although Bro . Massey had arrived at a ripe old age and has died in harness , to those who have been so long associated with him his death has come as a surprise , for he was one of those on whom advancing

years appeared lo make little or no impression . Independence of character , sterling probity , and scrupulousness and care in the exercise of his profession were his chief characteristics , and there are few brethren who have deserved better of the

Craft .