United Grand Lodge Of England.

The minutes of the last Communication were , on the motion of Bro . R . D . dimming , P . G . Std . Br ., taken as read . Similar motions in regard to the reports of the Board of Benevolence and of the Board of General Purposes were put and carried . V . W . Bro . John Strachan , K . C , Grand Registrar , reported

to Grand Lodge in reference to certain events in Queensland . He said , I have the honour to report to Grand Lodge with reference to certain Masonic events in the Slate of

Otieensland . As is probably known to all here , the Grand Lodges of England , Ireland and Scotland have equal , though independent , Masonic jurisdiction in certain colonies of the Empire , and in other territories , including India ; and it having been represented to the Grand Master of England that some uniformity of practice with regard to certain matters

should prevail , His Royal Highness some months ago communicated with the Grand Masters of Ireland and Scotland , in order that joint action might be taken

respecting—( i . ) Ihe recognition in each jurisdiction of the decrees of suspension , exclusion , or expulsion , pronounced respectively by the Masonic authorities of the other jurisdictions when acting judicially ; ( 2 . ) The stains in each such jurisdiction of Worshipful

Masters and Past Masters of the other jurisdictions or Constitutions , and their eligibility in certain events to take the chair ; ( 3 . ) The recognition of new Grand Lodges , where there are lodges under the several Constitutions in the

colony or territory of the proposed new Grand Lodge . Before any joint understanding could be arrived at , events had moved with singular rapidity in Queensland , where there have been for many years a number of lodges , formed respectively into a District Grand Lodge under the Grand Lodge of England , a Provincial Grand Lodge under the

Grand Lodge of Ireland , and a District Grand Lodge under the Grand Lodge of Scotland . About a year ago , the Provincial Grand Master under the Irish Constitution addressed a letter to the M . W . Grand Master of Ireland , announcing that " there is a determination to establish a Sovereign Grand Lodge of Queensland , no matter at what cost , " and

forthwith overtures were made to the English and Scottish lodges to join the movement . Our District Grand Master , Bro . the Hon . Augustus C . Gregory , C . M . G ., thereupon caused a circular to be issued to all lodges under his care , pointing out what steps were necessary uncle Rule 218 A , for

obtaining a dispensation to hold a meeting at which the question could be considered . But so far , I believe , there has been no desire expressed , on the part of the English lodges , to join in the movement or even to discuss the question . In April of this year , however , certain brethren of the other Constitutions met and resolved to form a Grand

Lodge of Queensland ; but the value of such a resolution may be properly estimated when we find that out ol the 152 lodges in Queensland , only 39 identified themselves with the movement , leaving 113 which decline lo do so . Of the 26 Irish lodges , 25 were in favour and one against ; of the 64 Scottish lodges , 14 were in favour , and 50 against ; while

of the 62 English lodges , not one was in favour . Thus , the English District Grand Lodge remains intact , with its 62 lodges ; the Scottish District Grand Lodge remains with 50 lodges , while 14 have apparently allied themselves with the 25 Irish lodges , to constitute an irregular assembly of about

one-fourth of the total lodges in the State . This minority has sent out to the several Grand Lodges of the world a circular letter claiming recognition in the following words " The action taken by the brethren in this State will , it is trusted , be approved by your Most Worshipful Grand Lodge ,

and I am instructed to respectfully request fraternal recognition and co-operation for the Grand Lodge of Queensland , in the full hope and confidence that such recognition will be cordially and promptly given , thus tending to ensure to this Grand Lodge sole jurisdiction within the territory . "

The application having been carefully considered by the Most Worshipful Grand Master of England and his Masonic advisers , I am commanded to intimate that His Royal Highness does not propose to ask Grand Lodge to acknowledge the so-called Grand Lodge of Queensland . It only remains , therefore , for me to move the following resolution : —

The Most Worshipful Grand Master having received a communication from the secretary of a body in Brisbane styling itself " the Grand Lodge of Queensland , " requesting recognition of such body as having sole Masonic jurisdiction within that territory , and His Royal

Highness having intimated that he does not propose to ask Grand Lodge to accord such recognition , it is hereby Resolved , that the United Grand Lodge of England refuses to acknowledge the aforesaid body in Brisbane as a Grand Lodge , or as having any Masonic jurisdiction

in the State of Queensland . V . W . Bro . the Rev . Sir Borradaile Savory , Bart ., Past Grand Chaplain , and Acting Deputy Grand Master , seconded the resolution , which was carried unanimously . V . W . Bro . John Strachan , K . C , following upon that

motion , inasmuch as certain Grand Lodges are awaiting the action of the Grand Lodge of England , and have requested to be informed of it , I beg to move , " That the Grand Secretary be instructed to send a copy of the report and resolution to all the Grand Lodges with which we are in

fraternal relationship . " This was seconded by the Acting Deputy Grand Master , and the resolution was put and carried unanimously . Grand Lodge was then closed in form , and with solemn prayer .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Cumberland And Westmorland.

Provincial Grand Lodge of Cumberland and Westmorland .

THE annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Cumberland and Westmorland was held on the 23 rd September , under the banner of the Vale of Eden Lodge , No . 2493 , at Appleby . Bro . Lord Henry Cavendish-Bentinck , M . P ., Provincial Grand Master , presided . Bro . Colonel Frederic Robertson SewellD . L ., Past Grand Deacon

, , Deputy Provincial Grand Master , and a large gathering of brethren from the twenty-four lodges of the combined province supporting him . In the course of the service at St . Michael's Church , the Provincial Grand Chaplain , Bro . the Rev . C . G . Dewbery ,

M . A ., preached the sermon , and the subsequent offertory was on behalf of the Cumberland and Westmorland Educational and Benevolent Fund , to the credit of which there now stands in the bank . £ 275 16 s . 2 d . In the Provincial Grand Lodge the officers for the new year were invested , and brevet rank was conferred upon

other brethren . A noticeable ieature of the proceedings was the carrying of a resolution inviting Bro . William Farquharson Lamonby , P . A . G . D . C , P . Prov . S . G . W ., a member of the province for the past forty years , to publish an amplified edition of the history of the province which was issued twenty-live years ago .

Festivities at the Tufton Arms Hotel followed the serious business of the Grand Lodge . It was twenty-live years ago that the Provincial Grand Lodge was held at Appleby . The lodge under the banner of which it was then held—Lord Kenlis ( afterwards Earl of Bective ) being the Provincial

Grand Master—is now extinct . It was the Eden Valley Lodge , No . 812 , which came into existence in i 860 , but returned its warrant to Grand Lodge fourteen years ago . Three years later the present entertaining lodge , the Vale of Eden Lodge , No . 2493 , was warranted and is having a successful career .