The Fund Of Benevolence.

16 . When cases of extraordinary distress occur , and the sum of twenty pounds does not appear sufficient to afford adequate ; relief , the Lodge of Bonevolence may recommend such cases to the Grand Master , Avho may grant any sum not exceeding forty pounds . Whenever any vote for a sum of money not exceeding fifty pounds

shall be be carried in Grand Lodge , pursuant to a recommendation from the Lodge of Benevolence , the same shall be paid forthAvifch ; but should the vote exceed fifty pounds , it shall not be valid until confirmed at the next Grand Lodge . Any vote or recommendation for a sum exceeding ten

. pounds shall not be effectual until confirmed at the next or a subsequent meeting of the Lodge of Benevolence ; but the lodge may at once pay any sum nofc exceeding ten pounds on account of any vote or recommendation of the lodge exceeding that sum . The lodge , instead of confirming the grant or recommendation may reduce it to any sum not less than thafc which has been paid on account , and the resolution of reduction shall not require confirmation .

17 . These laws and regulations shall be read by the Grand Secretary in the months of January , April , July , and October , previous to the lodge entering on business ; and the Master in . the chair shall not , on any pretence whatever , alpw any part of them to be dispensed with or infringed .

To prevent mistakes in'the recommendation of petitions , the following Form is proposed , which may la altered as circumstances require : — We , the undersigned , being the Master , Wardens , and majority of the members present , in open lodge assembled , of Lodge No . called

and held at thig day of 18 do hereby certify , that the within-named petitioner had been a regular contributing member , paying the stipulated subscription to this Lodge , for the space of years , and that we have known him in reputable

circumstances , and do therefore recommend him to the Lod » e of Benevolence for relief , having satisfactory grounds for believing the allegations set forth in his petition to be true .

The Grand Lodge Of Scotland, And The St. John's Lodge Memorial.

THE GRAND LODGE OF SCOTLAND , AND THE ST . JOHN ' S LODGE MEMORIAL .

" Report of Sub-Committee appointed by Grand Committee , 25 th Nov ., 1870 , to investigate the memorial from the Lodge St . John's , Glasgow , No . 3 £ , anent , the carrying of working tools at processions and other ceremonials of Grand

Lodge . " In carrying out the remit made to them , your Sub-Committee requested the Grand Clerk to serve copies of the memorial on the Lodge

The Grand Lodge Of Scotland, And The St. John's Lodge Memorial.

Journeymen , No . 8 , and Bro . W . P . Buchan , a member of No . 3 ^ , who claimed the right of replying to certain of the statements contained in the memorial Avhen read at the last quarterly communication of Grand Lodge ; and to the

replies , received as Avell as to minutes of Grand Lodge , and other documents bearing on the matter at issue , the Sub-Committee have given careful consideration .

The Memorial of St . John's Lodge maintains , 1 st . —That the Lodge was conceded by Virtue of a Charter granted to it by Malcolm Can more certain rights and privileges , and assigned , by virtue of their position , precedence in rank over all the

daughter lodges of Scotland . 2 nd . —Thafc the practice invariably exercised hitherto by the Grand Lodge in the ceremonial of laying the foundationstone iu provinces other than that of Edinburgh has been to concede in courtesy and right to the

senior lodge of the province to appoint such operative Freemasons as they shall think fit to select to carry the working tools . 3 rd . —That the right and privilege of the Lodge Journeymen is distinctly circumscribed and confined to the district

of Edinburgh as laid down in Grand Lodge Laws / , chap , xx , sec . 3 , and that this law defines their position as that of '' Edinburgh and no otherplace . " 4 th . —That the Grand Master acted contrary to Grand Lodge Laws in awarding

precedency to the Lodge Journeymen on the occasion of meeting in GlasgoAV Cathedral previous to laying the foundation stone of the Albert Bridge , on 3 rd June last , the deciding of such a question being vested in the meeting , and not in the chair .

And , 5 th . —That St . John's Lodge understood they were to be left in undisputed possession of their ancient rights and privileges on the occasion referred to , in consequence of a correspondence Avhich they allege took place betAveen the late Grand Secretary , Brother Laurie , and the Master of the Lodge .

Alter investigating the several statements above narrated the sub-committee are of opinion , 1 st , —That St . John ' s Lodge has not proved that ifc possesses , in \* irfcue of its charter , or of any law or resolution of Grand Lodge , exclusive

privileges beyond precedence , in virtue of its number , on Grand Lodge Roll , over the other lodges in Glasgow province . Grand Lodge has nothing whatever fco do wifch any rights or privileges Sfc . John ' s Lodge claims in virtue of its so-called Mai-