United Grand Lodge Of England.

United Grand Lodge of England .

'TM-lE September Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge I took place on the 6 th instant , and the attendance was unusually large . The Hon . Mr . Justice Bucknill , Provincial Grand Master for Surrey , presided and was supported by R . W . Bro . W . H . Anderson , District Grand Master for North China , as Deputy-Grand Master , while R . W .

Bro . Robert ( hey , Past Grand Warden , acted as Past Grand Master . The usual resolution , that the minutes of the last quarterly communication be taken as read , was moved , but before being put Bro . Robert G . Palmer , P . M ., moved that so much of the

minutes as related to the Viceroy of India's Earthquake Relief Fund be read . This having been seconded , Bro . William Lake , Assistant Grand Secretary , read that portion . Bro . R . G . Palmer moved that as it was not quite a record of the proceedings , it be amended , and asked lo be permitted

to read a few letters upon the subject which he had written to the M . W . Pro Grand Master , together with the replies he had received from Earl Amherst . The Acting Grand Master asked if the object in reading these letters was to propose that so much of the minutes as has been read be not confirmed ?

Bro . R . G . Palmer replied that it was simply the words " with the permission of Grand Loclge , " which should be added . The amendment was agreed to . The nominations for the office of Grand Treasurer were then made , particulars of which , with a full statement of

their Masonic careers , will be found in another column . The report of the Board of Benevolence for the months of June , July and August , was , on the motion of V . W . Bro . James Henry Matthews , President , taken as read , and ordered to be received and entered on the Minutes , and the

recommendations contained therein were confirmed . The report of the Board of General Purposes was taken as read . * i- V . W . Bro . John Strachan , K . C , Grand Registrar : Most Worshipful Grand Mafeter in the Chair , arising out of the

report there is one passage to which I might refer . It states " The Board , in reporting the result of this conference to Grand Lodge , would recommend that the resolutions be adopted by the United Grand Loclge of England , and that such adoption be notified to the Grand Lodges of Ireland and Scotland . " In moving that that recommendation be adopted by-Grand Loclge , I would point out that at the conference there

were five representatives of the Grand Loclge of England , five of the Grand Loclge of Scotland and only two of the Grand Lodge of Ireland . The representatives were unanimous with regard to all the questions which we ultimately recommend to this Grand Lodge , except that the Irish representatives thought that they were instructed by their Grand Lodge that

a bare majority of Warrants of Lodges would be sufficient to ensure a recognition . It was pointed out to them that a bare majority would not ensure that stability that is necessary ; that if we found there were two-thirds of the Lodges , ( hat would certainly be a better guarantee for the proposed Grand

Lodge . They were very much impressed by that , but they said they had not the authority of their Grand Loclge at that time to agree to it , so that it must be taken that that recommendation comes by a vote of the English and Scotch brethren . The Irish brethren will hold their Grand Lodge

shortly , and the representatives said they would place before their Grand Loclge those views which had been unanimousl y forced upon them by the representatives of England and Scotland , including the Pro Grand Master of England and the Grand Master Mason of Scotland . I thought it advisable to mention that , as our Pro Grand Master would wish this explanation to be given in Grand Loclge so that you should

know the precise position of affairs before any expression of opinion is asked . Subject to that , I ask this Grand Loclge to adopt those resolutions , and that such adoption be notified to the Grand Lodges of Ireland and Scotland . After that there will be another motion . The motion was seconded by V . W . Bro . Frank Richardson .

W . Bro . William Farquharson Lamonby , P . A . G . D . of Ceremonies : Most Worshipful Grand Master in the chair , as a P . M . of two Australian lodges for over twenty years , and still a subscribing member to one of those lodges , I trust I may be considered qualified and entitled to say a few words

in support of the resolution now before Grand Lodge . Many of us now and again display a very considerable amount of wisdom alter the event has happened , and I have no hesitation in saying , all the same , that had these very salutary regulations—this alliance between the three British Grand

Lodges—been in force many years ago , much of the strifeand I will add , the injustice of those times which have gone by—would have been avoided . Of course , I am now referring to Clause 3 of these Resolutions . I do not know—in fact , I have not the remotest idea—who the brother is who

suggested or conceived this very happy idea , but I have no doubt whatever , that he , who ever he is , has gained the warmest commendations of every brother , whether in England or abroad . I have much pleasure , Most Worshipful Grand Master in the Chair , in supporting the resolution now before Grand Loclge .

The resolution was put and carried . V . W . Bro . John Strachan , K . C . : Most Worshipful Grand Master in the chair , that motion having been adopted by Grand Lodge , I now beg to move that "the Most Worshipful Grand Master be respectfully requested to sign the agreement

on behalf of Grand Lodge . " The resolution , having been seconded by V . W . Bro . Frank Richardson , was put and carried unanimously . V . W . Bro . John Strachan , K . C . : Most Worshipful Grand Master in the Chair , as there are many matters here reported

to Grand Lodge for the information of Grand Lodge and no resolution submitted , inasmuch as many of the matters are not yet concluded , I beg to move now that the whole of this report be adopted by Grand Loclge in order to show its approval of what the Board has been doing on the behalf of ,

and in the name of Grand Lodge . I would like a formal resolution that the whole report be adopted . The proposition was seconded by W . Bro . Robert Manuel and put and carried unanimously . An appeal which appeared on the agenda paper was

postponed . Grand Loclge was closed in form , and with solemn prayer .

At the regular meeting of the St . John ' s Chapter , No . 70 held on the 24 th August , at the Freemasons' Hall , Plymouth , the opportunity was taken of presenting Hie chapter with the warrant granted by Supreme Grand Chapter acknowledging the continuous working of the chapter for over one hunched

years . The presentation was made by Ex . Comp . F . 13 . Westlake , 2 nd Grand Principal , G . Std . Br . ( England ) , and under ordinary circumstances would have been received by Ex . Comp . Sholto Hare , Prov . G . Std . Br . ( Cornwall ) the 3 rd Principal of the Chapter , but owing to illness he was unable

to be present , and it was accordingly handed to Ex . Comp . W . H . Treasure , who suitably acknowledged it , and the kindly references of Ex . Comp . Westlake to the chapter . Subsequently Ex . Comp . J . Jacobs presented the chapter with certain regalia for use in the ceremonies , to commemorate the auspicious event . The principals for the ensuing year were elected .