Grand Mark Lodge.

Bro . Sir J B . MONCKTON said this discussion was wholly out of order , and it was setting an exceedingly bad precedent . If the report was not received it could not be discussed . The Earl of EUSTON said that , subject to the ruling of the Grand Master in the chair , the motion would be put without discussion at once .

Bro . RICHARDSON said he moved the resolution that Article 62 be altered to read as appeared on the agenda paper . Bro . ALFRED WILLIAMS seconded . The motion was carried . Bro . FRANK RICHARDSON moved the next recommendation— " That the [ jest thanks of Grand Lodge are due , and are hereby given , to W . Bro .

Arthur Roger Carter , P . G . Std . Br ., for the gift to Grand Lodge of a large painting of the tracing board and a suite of Moorish armour . " The tracing board was at the end of the room ; it had been painted by a well-known artist . To his ( Bro . Richardson ' s ) mind it vvas a beautiful work of art , and was a tracing board which had long been wanted . Bro . Carter had not

only painted it properly but had registered it under the Trademarks and Designs Act at Stationers' Hall and had transferred it to trustees for Grand Mark Lodge . He had also given Grand Lodge a beautiful suite of Moorish armour . He thought the best thanks of Grand Lodge were due to Bro . Carter and he would couple the two gifts in the vote of thanks .

Bro . H . LOVEGROVE seconded , but would like to know on vvhat authority and how the design of this tracing board was made , and why it was substituted for the old one . In five or six years time Brown , Jones , or Robinson mig ht design another tracing board and get it accepted . Bro . F . RICHARDSON said perhaps he ought to have first moved that this design be adopted as the official tracing board of the Degree .

Bro . the Rev . J . S . BROWNRIGG seconded . Bro . J . S . CUMBERLAND renewed Bro . Lovegrove's question—on whose authority vvas the new tracing board painted . Was it right for a new brother to step in and alter the old tracing board which was in use in private lodges . If this sort of thing was allowed to go on , from time to time a brother of ability might step in and design another tracing board for them , and they

would never know where they were . Before they committed themselves to the generosity of Bro . Carter they should understand that he received instructions from some one . Bro . Carter was not a very old Mark Mason and was not likely to know what was correct for a tracing board and what vvas not . It would not do for this Grand Lodge from time to time to adopt a new design , vvhich they might perhaps have every five or six years .

Bro . R . PULMAN , P . G . I . G ., said he had heard the old tracing board exp lained , but there might be no one to explain the new one . Had the old one become defunct ? Why had it become defunct ? It had answered the purpose of Mark Masonry , and Mark Masonry had flourished and continued to flourish . Let them keep up to their old standpoint and not take up a new one . Let them stick to their old landmaiks .

Bro . I < . RICHARDSON said there were exactly the same signs on the new tracing board as on the old ; the old design had merely been elaborated , and if he might say so , made more beautiful . All the Masonic signs had been added ; there were no new ones . All the old lecture would apply to the new tracing board . With regard to Bro . Cumberland ' s question the answer was that the painting was done by Bro . Carter with the full sanction and approbation of the General Board . It was submitted to them of course for approval .

Bro . W . A . Scurrah quite felt with one or two speakers that it was a very bad thing to vvash away old landmarks . The old tracing board had done good service in mark lodges . He had received great instruction from the old tracing board , and would bc sorry to see it done away with . He for one thanked Bro . Carter very much for his kindness and generosity ; but he should like to hear Bro . Carter give a lecture on his tracing

board either before or after some skilled Mark Mason gave the lecture on the old tracing board . Let them not think for a moment that he disliked the gift , for he thought it was most kind of Bro . Carter to go to thc expense and trouble he had gone to , but at the same time he did not think they ought to accept this kind of thing every now and then , and alter their tracing board . As had been said , next year some talented brother equally clever and equally generous might get up another design and

present it to Grand Lodge . Another b other said he took it that the old tracing board was not in any way altered , but was simply added to . He did not think it could be put more shortly or tersely than the old one . Bro . Col . GEORGE LAMBERT would ask that the old tracing board of the Bon Accord Lodge might be preserved . The present picture no doubt was very beautiful . Was it useful ?

The EARL of EUSTON said he was on the General Board , and , like Bro . 1 'rank Richardson , watched over the production of this picture from its very start . He could vouch that all that was in the old one was in the new one , onl y that it was beautified . He thought that Bro . Richardson ' s word should be taken . The . lecture could be given on the new as well as on the old one . Some brethren had said that perhaps this might happen or that

wight happen , but let them remember there was a solid motion before them , that this tracing board should be accepted as the official tracing board of the Degree . If it was a more beautiful thing but still kept up every tradition of the old tracing board , though it was more beautiful and attractive to the eye of those who had to lecture on it , nought was to be said

against it , and he should support its being adopted . He had seen it in its various stages , and he thought it very handsome . He did not consider it departed from the old landmarks , if it did he should oppose it . It was a tracing worked up with consummate art and skill , but it kept up the traditions of the old tracing board .

Bro . the Rev . J . S . BROWNRIGG informed Grand Lodge that no tracing ooard had yet received general approval . He had not seen it in Mark Gorges , because no tracing board had received general recognition , ofr i ° ' ^ TRAIUN ( 0 I Newcastle ) said whether a tracing board had received nicial recognition or not , in the provinces there was a Mark tracing board . . was very undesirable that there should be constant alterations in je tracing boards and thintrs of that sort . He snoke with knowledce

, feeling in the country . He agreed that the brother who pretoM . the picture should have the thanks of Grand Lodge . They vvere Gr lt i ^ the old tracing board with an addition . If it was accepted for it ¦ I '' S "d c ' Grand Ollicers we should have said nothing against ob' J V' 1 C " ' ! brethren generally were asked to accept it for all lodges he forv' ^ i ' *' ' P ° ^ l ' recommendation ought not to be brought J '' lrd ; it ought to be referred back to the General Board , sub r ° ' ^ ' ^ ' ^ R 1 VER thought there had been a lot of loose talk on the told ' ' ? ' ' ^' . e new tracing board was a beautiful picture , and they had been was identical in every way with the old one . Mark Masons vvere

Grand Mark Lodge.

perfectly ready to accept it . ( "No , no . " ) It was identical with that previously used . The amendment vvas lost by 42 against 31 votes , and the original motion was then put and carried . The remaining recommendations were then moved , seconded , and carried .

Bro . Loveland Loveland , J . P ., who had been appointed by the M . W . G . M . as President of the General Board , was then invested by the M . W . Pro Grand Master vvith the insignia of office , after which the noble Marquis announced that the Grand Master had appointed Bro . John E . Dawson as a member of the General Board . Grand Lodge was then closed in ample form .

Freemasonry.

FREEMASONRY .

Why has Freemasonry existed so long as it has , and its effect on society ? I claim its existence is due to the fact that it is not a secret society . ' Tis true , we have modes of recognition , rites and ceremonies , and secrets with which the profane are not acquainted , nor can its beauties be appreciated without a thorough knowledge of its mystic language , composed as it is of gems of philosophy linked with beautiful symbols , and is charity falls as noiselessly

as the dews of heaven ; yet strictly speaking , it is not a secret society . A secret society is one of those gatherings where men meet to discuss things in strict confidence , without giving to the world any kno . vledge of its mission . Men are condemned to die , plots and conspiracies are entered into , anarchy hold full sway , and deeds that are dark , foul , and damnable are accomplished . The world is not permitted to know of whom it is composed , its

place of meeting is a profound secret , and all connected with it are schemers , plotters , atheists , and anarchists , who have the stamp of perdition on their souls . To illustrate my position , I point you to the famous Clan-na-Gael , to the dread Mafia , and others of the same stamp . Their history is too well known for comment . They are secret societies that breed death and destruction . Their own members , to divulge their dark deeds meet with

instant death . Now , if Masonry is paraded as a secret sect its days are numbered . But from this vve have nothing to fear . Novv , if is not a secret society vvhat is it ? It is a private society , formed on the broad basis of brotherly love , relief , and truth . No free white man with the essential physical qualifications is denied admission if he be " good and true . " Its constitutions are for the world to behold . The ancient charges

and regulations are open for inspection . Its tenets , its cardinal virtues , add lustre to its brilliancy . Its laws and jurisprudence are published to the world . These things are not secret . No man , however great his prejudice , will deny the fact that it has a good effect on the human race . It has existed while other things of human invention have died , lt exists to-day because it inculcates every virtue . It has survived the bulls against it from Romethe persecution of kings and emperors .

There must be a cause for this . While Masonry does not offer the pass to heaven , yet its banner is painted in gilded letters of faith in God , hope in immortality . This , to my mind , is the key to the situation . Its teachings have always been so pure that its votaries have guarded it with loving fidelity . It cannot die because it is built on a firm foundation—has principles underlying it that will endure " till time shall be no more . " No human institution has ever had such vile indignities heaped upon it . The

popes insist that the Masonic sect admits the believer and atheist on a common platform . They claim that it is and has been engaged on warfare against the church and the governments of the earth . What silly expressions 1 Had they acquainted themselves wilh its lectures , with its symbolisms ; had they investigated before passing sentence , they might have been honoured by hanging their " harps on weeping willows , " by joining this grand procession of the world's greatest men ; in marching on to the summit and perfection of our aim—truth .

lt has existed because it teaches the moral law . The man who takes the name of God in vain is guilty of a Masonic offence . It exits because it has never stooped to the intrigues of politicians . It exists because it has a universal language found in no other sect . It exists because it is a science based on the philosophy of that religion in which all men agree—that of the existence of a Supreme Ruler and the immortality of the soul . When

kingdoms and republics have fallen , when wars have been fought between nations , it vvill exist on the side of conqueror and conquered alike . Its effect on society ? Its literature is pure and holds a high place in the world of letters . Its votaries come from the royal palace , it is composed of princely knights , of heroes , ot men of intellect and high moral character—the earth ' s truest

men , coining from all the walks of life . Then , since its material is good , why should not good result from it ? No one will deny the fact , though , that there are many men Masons who are unworthy of the name . But in this it is not unlike all other good things—even the church . Then , on the other hand , when I look on the pages of history and find such names as Morris , Dove , Coles , and hundreds of such men who are known to have been prominent in shaping its course—men of rank , influence , and high

social standing , practicing that virtue , that morality which it teaches—I do not measure it by the standard of the bad but of the good . Its good effect is broad , and any good man who wishes to improve himself—whose desire it is to serve his fellow-man—can , by taking our working tools and going into the great quarries , curb passion and " free himself from the allurements of vice" and make a name of which his children will be proud . To the bad

man , the unworthy , those who do not stand the test of the square of virtue , of the plumb line of justice , the latch string is not on the outside . It is not a reform school vvhich admits every applicant , but a science that polishes the intellect and makes a good man better . Il helps the good because tin ; good are trying to be better . It vvill help the bad if the bad will try to di heller , and all men , whether good or bad , can improve themselves in Masonry if they follow its teachings .

Masonic lectures have stood the test of general ions . The mystic language is elevating . Thc world respects it because it believes with an unswerving faith—an inflexible fidelity in life beyond the grave , Kings are Masons because Masonry honours kings . Churchmen are Masons because Masonry inculcates friendship , morality , and brotherly love . These things deeply impress men because they strike the hidden part of humanity and

produce a good effect on their souls . Its struggle for existence at critical periods has been recorded by the faithful , showing , as it does , that ignorance and superstition must stand from under and let pass the mighty whei .-ls of progress , guided by the eternal light of heaven , crushing immorality and vice , and painting on a " clouded canopy " from horizon to horizon , in leiims of pure gold , the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man . — I ., in The Rough Ashlar .