Masonic Intelligence.

Br . Parkinson , P . G . D . ; Br . Goldsworthy , P . G . D . ; Br . Norris , P . G . D . ; Br . T . R . White , P . G . D . ; Br . Patten , P . G . S . B . ; Br . Biggs , P . G . S . B ., & c , & c . The minutes of the la ^ t Lodge having been confirmed , Br . White , the G . S . read an account of the sums disbursed by the Board of Benevolence during the past three months , viz ., in Juno , GO ., to four recipients , July , 48 / . to five recipients , August , 75 ? . to six recipients . The report of tho Board of General Purposes , to whom it had been remitted to

inquire into the causes of the failure of the late tenants for the Freemasons' Tavern was brought up . The Board attributed the event , principally to the want of capital , and the rent being too high . The lease had been assigned to most respectable tenants , Messrs . Shrewsbury & Co ., who wore desirous of holding the Tavern . The surveyor had reported , that the Tavern required about £ 7 GO being laid out upon it , to put it in repair—some portion of wliich ought to be defrayed by Grand Lodge , and the rest by tenantsInquiry had been made relative to the and character of the tenants

. means new , wlr ' ch was in every way satisfactory . They therefore recommended , that the Tavern should be lot to Messrs . Shrewsbury LS ; Co ., at £ 800 per annum , and £ l Is . per night for the Hall , when used—and that £ G 00 be allowed them out ot the ftst year's rent , for the repair and decoration of the Tavern . The balance sheet showed the balance in favour of the Fund of Benevolence , to be , £ 1222 13 s ., and of the Fund for General Purposes , after deducting £ 1000 paid to the Patriotic Fund

, , £ 1942 Ss ., out of which , £ 500 had been invested in the funds , making the investments £ 7500 . Br . John Hervey , P . G . D . moved the adoption of the report of the Board of General Purposes . They had given the subject remitted to them by Grand Lodge , relative to the rent of the Tavern , the utmost consideration—and looking at tho fact , that the Tavern business of London had of late years been much depreciated by the establishment of clubs , and comparing the rent of the Freemasons , with that of other first rate taverns , so far as the information could bo obtained , they had come to the conclusion , that the rent of i . 1100 a year was too high , and that it ought to bo reduced to , £ 800 . It was

not now necesssary to go into bye-gones , but he was happy to state , that from the strictest inquiry , the Board were satisfied that they had secured respectable and responsible tenants , and he should therefore move that the report be adopted ; Messrs , Shrewsbury & Co . accepted as tenants , and the trustees be instructed to grant the necessary lease . . Br . Tomkins , G . D . seconded the motion . Br- Dr . Rowe , did not wish in any way to oppose the resolution , but he hoped he miht bo alloived

g to express his regret that success had not attended the efforts of the worthy brothers who lately held the tavern . Seeing that , according to tho report of the Board of General Purposes , they had paid £ 300 a year too much for the Tavern during the three years they had held it , and £ 480 for repairs , ho did trust that at some future time , a brother might be found to move that £ 500 or £ 000 be returned to them , to assist them in then- future career in life . ( Hear , hear ) . After some conversation the resolution was adopted—the subject broached bBr

, y . Dr . Rowe being left in abeyance for a future meeting . Br . John Savage rose to bring forward a resolution , of which he had given notice at the last meeting of Grand Lodge , to the effect , that it was the opinion of ' Grand Lodge , that the present mode of electing members of the Board of Benevolence , and Board of General Purposes , had been found to be objectionable , and that therefore , in future , such elections should take place by show of hands . He did not think it was necessary to detain them at any length , because it was he believed admitted by a large portion , if not the whole of the

members of Grand Lodge , that it was desirable to make some alteration in the mode of election , so as to prevent one or two brothers marking the lists of a large number of the brethren , and thereby virtually putting the election into their hands . He remembered , that when he originally became a member of Grand Lodge , the election used to take place by show of hands , and he could not now recollect what was the reason for altering it . The ballot , though no doubt in many respects the best mode of election , had given rise to the preparation of lists of candidates . Ho did not condemn that , but he did condemn the practice of one or two of the brethren marking lists and