United Grand Lodge Of England.

very carefully m the presence of two , if not more , experts of their own upon the Board , called in Mr . Jennings . Mr . Jennings estimated the sum stated ; n the agenda , which vvas within the figure calculated by the Grand Superintendent of Works , which it would cost to remedy the defects . The Board t 0 whom Grand Lodge had deputed its confidence had told Grand Lodge on this authority what it recommended , and they were prepared to take this

responsibility . Bro . CHARLES BARRY , Grand Superintendent of Works , said that as an individual and not as an expert , as a Mason interested of course in everything that concerned the brethren , if an actually proved danger did ex to those who served them in this building he was sure Grand Lodge would with one voice wish to remove that danger . The history of it was exceeding ly simple . Complaints had been made of the drainage . The

sanitary arrangements had not been examined in a thorough manner until he thought it his duty as the Grand Superintendent of Works to make that examination . The result of it was to show that by the ordinary smoke test the sewer gas was found to escape . He thoug ht it therefore his duty to bring the matter before the Board , and he gave them his rough idea of what would be the cost of remed ying the

defects . The remedy was by relaying the whole system of drainage . The drains which were laid many years ago were entirely out of character with the requirements of the present day . He had no doubt of the fact , though he vvas not aware of it , that the main drainage under Great Queen-street had been altered , and if the late Bro . Cockerell had had the opportunities that now existed he never would have allowed the drains to remain as they

now were . His ( Bro . Barry ' s ) estimate of the cost of the alterations was . £ 660 , and the Board was startled , as they naturally might be ; but when he disclosed the existing danger they paid him the compliment , as he was sure every Mason would wish to do , of not ignoring the opinion which professionally he felt it his duty to lay before them . But they asked him if he had any objection to their obtaining the report of an independent person .

He said he had none , and they got it . Mr . Jennings was employed , and his estimate was £ 100 and more below his ( Bro . Barry ' s ) . Under the circumstances he felt that the Board had no other duty under their responsibility to the Craft than to recommend the new work . Still they thought it more respectful to Grand Lodge to ask for their authority . If it had been a case of landlord and tenant , the law would have compelled the landlord

to repair the defect , and , looking upon the servants of Grand Lodge as its tenants , he felt Grand Lodge would not refuse to do voluntarily vvhat a landlord would have to do compulsorily . The present drainage system at Freemasons' Hall had been in existence 30 years . The motion was then carried . Bro . FENN then moved , and Dr . POCOCK seconded , the following

recommendation from the M . W . G . M .: " That an addition be made to the Grand Officers appointed by the M . W . G . M ., by the appointment of a Grand Chancellor , to rank immediately after the Grand Wardens , and whose duties shall be those at present assigned to the Grand Registrar , as set forth in Articles 31 and 32 of the Book of Constitutions , and of four additional Grand Deacons and a Deputy Grand Sword Bearer , and that the same take

effect on and after the Grand Festival of 1893 . " Bro . G . P . BRITTEN objected tothe proposition that the Grand Chancellor should rank before the Grand Chaplains . It was not useful , and it mi g ht be mischievous , and he thought it was degrading the office of Grand Chaplain . Some years ago an attempt was made to degrade the position of Grand Chaplain , but the Grand Master put his foot down on it . He moved as an amendment that the Grand Chancellor should rank next

below the Grand Chaplain . The motion having been seconded , Bro . Rev . J . S . BROWNRIGG , P . G . C , disclaimed any feeling on the part of the Grand Chaplains that their position was degraded by the Grand Master ' s proposition .

Bro . Britten's amendment was negatived , and on the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe putting the original motion , Bro . RICHARD EVE , P . G . T ., wished to make a few observations . Hc wanted to know whether they wanted a Grand Chancellor at all vvith the duties of Grand Registrar , when they had a Grand Registrar , a very eminent legal brother . It was due to the brethren that they should know .

The proposition was stated to be made at the recommendation of the Grand Master , but it was really from the Board of General Purposes , and he thought the President of the Board should have stated some reason for converting the Grand Registrar into Grand Chancellor . It vvas not stated what the Grand Chancellor would have to do . He vvas perfectly satisfied with the Grand Registrar . They had a splendid body of officers .

What did they want a Grand Chancellor for'' Grand Registrar did his duties very well . He did not understand why the }* were to create a new Grand Officer if it was only to give the Registrar a Grand name . They had Chancellors of various kinds—in thc House of Lords , and in some Degrees of Masonry—but he liked the name of Grand Registrar . But he would go further , and say they did not want an extra

Grand Officer . They did not know what was to become of the Grand Registrar . As there was no reason for the change he would move as an amendment to leave out the words " a Grand Chancellor , to rank immediately after the Grand Wardens , and whose duties shall be those at present assi gned to the Grand Registrar , as set forth in Articles 31 and 32 of the Book of Constitutions , and of . " Bro . JAMES STEVENS seconded the proposed amendment .

Bro . the Rev . J AUGUSTUS LLOYD , P . G . C , respectfully suggested to his Royal Hig hness the Grand Master whether he should not consider that the time had arrived when a Grand Librarian should be added to the ! 'st of Grand Ollicers . In American lodges they had these officers . The sum voted from Grand Lodge vvas extremely small yearly for forming a Proper Masonic Library . The appointment of Grand Librarian seemed to "im of more importance even than that of Grand Chancellor .

Bro . THOMAS FENN believed he was called upon to make some explanation . He could assure Bro . Eve they did not want to swallow up the Grand Registrar , and they did not want to impose anything upon Grand Lod ge . They thought , however , that a proposition coming from the Grand Master would be accepted . The proposition was that there should be an

Edition to the number of Grand Ofiicers ; therefore the Grand Registrar * ould still remain . An extension was wanted in the number of Grand juicers , and the way proposed was one means of doing it . The Grand Reg istrar would remain . A- BROTHER : What will he do ? wo . THOMAS FENN said he would be a Deputy , and he would do whatever duties he was called upon to perform . ( Laughter . ) In his experience "e never found a Grand Officer who was not willing to discharge any duties

United Grand Lodge Of England.

he was asked to perform . There were no duticsassi gncd to the Grand Registrar or the Grand Deacons in the Book of Constitutions . He had been 2 { fyears a Grand Officer ; Sir Albert Woods had been longer a Grand Officer , and he would ask Sir Albert Woods if there was ever a Grand Deacon who had refused to do what he was asked . The Grand Chancellor was simply a new Grand Officer .

Bro . BRITTEN said the report expressly stated that the Chancellor would have the ditties assigned to Grand Registrar . Then , he quite failed to see what the Grand Registrar would have to do . The Earl of MOUNT EDGCUMBE said that some amusement was just novv afforded when it was said that the Grand Registrar would be n Deputy and would perform what duties he vvas called upon to do . He ( the Eirl of Mount

Edgcumbe ) did not know vvhat the duties vvere , because the subject had not come under his attention , nor did he know about the proposal before hand ; but it appeared to him that when a busy man undertook Masonic duties which made heavy calls upon his time , a Deputy was not out of place . Many of the offices of Grand Lodge and of other lodges vvere comparativel y sinecures as far as the work and trouble went which fell to those who held them . But the office of Grand Registrar was not one of those . The

brethren had heard the Grand Registrar bring forward appeals , and there vvas one at last Grand Lodge which entailed the reading of an enormous amount of correspondence . Grand Registrar had real heavy duties . He did not think there was anything ridiculous or to be laughed at in the idea that the duties should be divided , or that the Grand Registrar should in the future act as Deputy to the Grand Chancellor . His lordship then put Bro . Eve ' s amendment .

Bro . Kve ' s amendment was carried . Bro . THOMAS FENN : Most Worshipful Grand Master in the chair , I am unable to proceed vvith the next resolution after that , ( " No , no . " ) Will you allow me one moment to say , brethren , that I do not think it respectful to the Most Worshi pful Grand Master to make an amendment to his recommendation ; it ought to be accepted or rejected . ( " No , no . " ) I do not see how I can proceed with the next resolution , because it is dependent on the other . ( " No , no . " ) I decline to move it .

1 he Earl of MOUNT EDGCUMBE : Bro . Fenn desires to withdraw the resolution . ( "No , no . " ) I venture to think most strongly that this is a case in vvhich you should take the proposal as a whole , and if you do not then you should allow the mover of it , representing one of your most important bodies , to withdraw it . ( Hear , hear , and " No , no . " ) I do not say

you should throw it out necessarily , because you adopted the amendment ; but you certainly ought not to throw any impediments in the way if he thinks it is for the credit of his Board that he should withdraw it . Bro . THOMAS FENN : Then I move that it be referred back . Bro . RICHARD EVE : The amendment has been put , and it is carried .

The Earl of MOUNT EDGCUMBE : And now Bro . Fenn requests pemission to withdraw the motion . I venture to think most strongly that in such a position permission should be granted . Is that your opinion , brethren ? ( Cries of yes . ) Permission was given . The recommendations were then withdrawn . On the molton of Bro . PHILBRICK the following was ordered to be entered on the

minutes—A report of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons , dated 13 th July , 1 S 92 , with respect to the alterations in the laws made for the Jubilee year of that Institution , will be laid before Grand Lodge , viz . :

That the alterations made in Rules 19 , 20 , 23 , and 25 for the purpose of the jubilee Festival which have been in force up to and including the 30 th June , 18 92 , having now ceased to be applicable , the former laws in force prior to the 3 rd June , 1891 , are novv the laws of thc Institution , vvith the approval of Grand Lodge .

Bro . PETER DE LANDE LONG , P . G . D ., moved—That the resolution of Grand Lodge of the 7 th September , 1 S 42 , to the following effect : " That a sum of / 500 be granted from the Fund for General Purposes to the Royal Freemason ' s Female School , to be invested in the Public Funds in the names of Trustees towards the formation of a separate Fund to be applied exclusively for the purpose of upholding ,

repairing , improving , and maintaining the School House and buildings of the Institution . That the Trustees of such Fund be the three Senior Trustees of the Charity ' s other Funded Property , " be rescinded , and that the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls be permitted to merge the . £ 500 therein referred to into the General Funds for the purposes of the Institution .

Bro . T . W . WHITMARSH , P . G . P ., seconded . Bro . T . H . DEVONSHIRE suggested the following alteration : "That the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls be permitted to merge the , £ 500 referred to in the resolution of Grand Lodge of 7 th September , 1842 , in the General Funds of the Institution , and that so much of that resolution as is inconsistent with the present resolution be rescinded . " Bro . Long accepted the alteration , and in that form the motion was carried .

Bro . PHILBRICK , Q . C , G . Reg ., explained the appeal of Bro . William Statt , of the Yarborough Lodge , No . 244 , Jersey , against the decision of the Provincial Grand Master of Jersey , confirming Bro . Statt ' s exclusion by his lodge , and recommended Grand Lodge to dismiss the appeal , which he moved . Bro . FENN seconded the motion . The appeal was dismissed , and Grand Lodge was closed in due form .

Grand Mark Lodge.

GRAND MARK LODGE .

The Quarterly Communication of Grand Lod geof Mark Master Masons of England and Wales and the Colonics and Dependencies of the British Crown was held on Tuesday eveningat Mark Masons' Hall . The Marquess of Hertford , Pro G . M . presided . The Earl of Euston , D . G . M ., occupied the Deputy Grand Master ' s chair ; Bro . the Rev . L S . Brownricir acted as

Past G . M . ; Bro . E . Letchworth , as S . G . W . ; Bro . Sir John B . " Monckton J . G . W . ; Alfred Williams , as G . M . O . ; J . S . Eastes , S . G . O . ; J . H . Matthews , as J . G . O . ; Baron de Ferrieres ; Sir Augustus Harris , G . Treas ¦ Frank Richardson , G . Reg . ; Robert Berridge , G . D . C ; and C . F . Matier ' G . Sec . There was a very full attendance of the brethren . '

After the opening of Grand Lod ge , the minutes of the former Quarterly Communication were read by the GRAND SECRETARY and confirmed . The following report of the General Board was , on the motion of Bro FRANK RICHARDSON , seconded b y Bro . R . BERRIDGE , taken as read received , and ordered to be entered on the minutes : '