MASONIC INTELLIGENCE.

UNITED SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER OF ENGLAND. QUARTERLY CONVOCATION, AUGUst 5, 1846.

Present,-M. E. C. Rowland Alston, A. Dobie, J. O. Dakeyne, as Z. H. J.; E.C. W. H. White, E.; McMullen, N.; James Savage, John Savage, P. and A. S.; and other Grand Officers, with several principals and past principals of subordinate Chapters.

The minutes of the last Quarterly Convocation were read and confirmed.

Comp. M'MULLEN observed that as Comp. Patten, who had given notice of motion for a grant of ten pounds to the Girls' School, was "over the water," he felt much pleasure in taking up this notice of motion given at the last Grand Chapter, which was seconded by Comp. L. EVANS, whereon

Comp. ACKLAM, in a very animated address, begged that it might be distinctly understood that Comp. Patten was not "over the water" to keep out of the way, but on private affairs.

The motion was then put and carried unanimously.

Comp. R. G. ALSTON, in the absence of Comp. H. B. Webb (not over the water*), felt much pleasure in taking up the notice of motion for ten pounds to the Boys' School, which being seconded, was also carried unanimously.

The financial report was highly satisfactory.

Petitions for Chapters were granted to 120, Bristol-729, 85th Reg.and 759, New Brunswick.

The Grand Chapter then adjourned.

The Annual Circular of the transactions of the Grand Chapter appears to be deferred sine die. The information, however, has already appeared in our pages.

UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND.

COMMITTEE OF MASTERS, AUG. 25, 1846.

Present-Brothers S. C. Norris, H. A. Hoare, Parkinson, Crucefix, Baumer, Savage, L. Evans, Rule.

The Board of General Purposes reported that the Book of Constitutions being out of print, it would be necessary to reprint the same, omitting what had been expunged by order of Grand Lodge, and inserting what had been added by Grand Lodge since 1841. That the reprinting should be under the direction of the Board of General Purposes, and that the copyright be vested in the Grand Secretary.

The Board also reported that they were fully satisfied with their

* Probably over the wine, as the E. C. dined with the G. O. M.

enquiries in the case of Mrs. Field, and that the 50%. voted by Grand Lodge had been paid to that lady.

The Board recommended that to economise the time of Grand Lodge the following suggestions be referred to the next Quarterly Communication, viz. Business to commence at eight o'clock precisely-That the directions for the government of Grand Lodge be not read, except at the meeting in March-That all needless matter be not read-That only the total amounts voted by the Lodge of Benevolence be read—and generally, that all formal parts of proceedings be omitted. The finance report announced a good balance in hand.

NOTICES OF MOTION.

Bro. CRUCEFIX renewed notice for annuities to widows.

Bro. JOHN SAVAGE, to alter Art. 11, p. 28, "That no new motion be entered on after ten o'clock at night."

Scrutineers.-Bros. Jagger, 13; Thompson, 25; Manley, 202.

Benevolence. It was unanimously recommended to the Grand Lodge to grant the sum of 50l. to Mrs. Eccles, widow of the late Bro. William Eccles, P.M. 118.

QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION.

SEPTEMBER 2, 1846.

Present-R. W. Bro. Lord Worsley, D. G. M. as G. M.

T. H. Hall (P.G. M. Cambridge) as D. G. M.
H. A. Hoare, S. G. W.

B. B. Cabbell, as J. G. W.

R. T. Crucefix, P. S. G. W. (Mass. U. S.)

V. W. Bro. Rev. J. W. Heyes, Grand Chaplain.

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A. Dobie, Grand Registrar.

W. H. White, G. S.

W. Bro. G. R. Rowe, M.D., T. Parkinson, Gd. Deacons.

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H. Forman, G. S. B.

R. W. Jennings, T. Chapman, G. D. C.
Hobbes, G. O., W. Rule, G. P.

Several Past Grand Officers, the Master, Past Masters, and Wardens of the G. S. L., and the same of many other Lodges.

The Grand Lodge was opened in due form.

The minutes of the last Quarterly Communication having been read, Bro. HALL enquired whether any further correspondence had taken place between the Grand Masters of England and Berlin.

Bro. WHITE replied in the negative, but that he had a letter from the Grand Master the Earl of Zetland to the Grand Master of Berlin, which in case of the confirmation of the Minutes would be transmitted on Friday next, and which, if required, he had authority to read. This, however, was not thought necessary, and the Minutes were then confirmed.

The report of the Board of General Purposes was received and entered on the Minutes.

It was moved and seconded that the Constitutions be reprinted, under the direction of the Board of General Purposes, whereon

DR. CRUCEFIX rose and called the attention of the Grand Lodge to the necessity of obtaining some hostage that they were not to be abused as they had been in 1841; for that on the last reprint, wherever there existed a power to be exercised by the body politic, it had been carefully excluded, while the power of the Grand Master and authorities had been as carefully extended. He would for one require it to be distinctly understood that in this case the Board of General Purposes should be strictly ministerial and not legislative, and that their power should be limited to the omitting of what Grand Lodge had omitted, and_of inserting whatever regulations had been passed since 1841. In all other respects the reprint was to be identical with the last edition.

Bro. WHITE having stated that such was the contemplated object of the Board, the motion was carried.

Bro. BIGG moved that the suggestions of the Board to economize the time of the Grand Lodge be adopted, and entered at considerable length into every proposed arrangement, by which he shewed that an hour might be saved. He had at first intended to have named the hour of seven instead of eight as the time for commencing business, but yielded to the opinion expressed by others that it would be as well to try the proposed plan, which, if it answered, so far well, and if it did not, at a future time the Grand Lodge might enact that business should begin at seven. He felt certain that no member of Grand Lodge but must feel keenly the necessity of some plan, by which the public time might be saved, that more of public business might be despatched and in better order.

Bro. CRUCEFIX in seconding the motion, observed that he should have felt still greater pleasure in following Bro. Bigg's original plan; however, the motion had his best wishes.

Bro. HAVERS did not see how the omission of usual forms could effect the object stated, for there were many members who would occupy the time by matter quite as little interesting.

Bro. DOBIE expressed very similar sentiments, and doubted if it were possible to define what should be read or omitted, inasmuch as it was competent in any member to demand the production of any or all documents, that the same might be read.

Bro. BIGG briefly replied, and the motion was carried.

The minutes of the Lodge of Benevolence (with the exception of a recommendation for a grant of 507.), were read and approved.

Dr. CRUCEFIX rose and stated that having moved at the Board of Benevolence that the sum of 50l. should be granted to Mrs. Eccles, the widow of the late Bro. William Eccles, it became his duty to bring the case before the attention of the Grand Lodge, which, he felt certain, would not be indifferent to the important fact that at a very numerous attendance of the Masters of Lodges, an unanimous recommendation was made for the amount stated. His own experience enabled him to observe that the recommendation was in compliance with sound and just Masonic law, in order to afford a public opportunity for negativing such recommendation if good and sufficient cause be shewn, and that it was scarcely needed to enter into an elaborote detail of the case, inasmuch as all petitions went through the ordeal of legal attestation-that the Masters were called on to speak to facts-and that, further, the members of the Lodge of Benevolence discussed the merits and awarded the

amounts, or referred the cases to the Grand Master or to the Grand Lodge. In the present instance, so satisfied was the Lodge of Benevolence with the facts of the case, that it was not met by a mere concurrence, but by a deeper feeling-that of an almost tearful sympathy; he felt certain that had he moved for a still larger amount he should have been successful. He trusted this case would not be referred to the Board of General Purposes, like that of Mrs. Field, and he called on Grand Lodge to bear in mind that it was only owing to the fearfulness of fire in the hall, at the last Grand Lodge, that such a course was permitted-a course he had much regretted, for it was in his opinion a violation of the law, and had previously no precedent. True it was that the Board felt satisfied with the case, and the money had been paid-but the money would have been paid without any officious interference. As to the present case-was he to occupy the time of Grand Lodge by a lengthened detail of the private virtues of the deceased Brother-his noble disinterestedness -his always unselfish views-his liberality to the poor-his urbanity to all-his practice of pure Masonic charity-his professional talent ;-or was he to enter largely into the accomplishments of a lady, who, with her noble husband, adorned society, and with a lovely family of five infant children, looked upward to heaven with thankfulness for the happiness they enjoyed-or was he to tell the sad tidings how the angel of death entered at night, and, without a moment's warning, struck the husband with apoplexy and the wife with horror? Such were the facts; and, since that dread hour, a posthumous son, unblest with the protection of an earthly father, was added to the already overwhelming cares of this most excellent lady. Such was the case-and he left it without further comment to the justice of his Brethren: to add one word more would be to doubt that justice on which he relied with perfect confidence. The motion having been seconded.

Bro. DOBIE moved as an amendment, that the recommendation of the Lodge of Benevolence be referred to the Board of General Purposes to make further enquiries, which, being seconded,

Bro. HAVERS supported the amendment, and stated that a report which he considered to be well founded, went to shew that the practice of the deceased Brother had been sold for fourteen hundred guineas, and that, consequently, the case was not one of pressing destitution.

Bro. SALMON was of the same opinion, having strong reason to consider such report well founded.

Bro. Having been present at the meeting of the Lodge of Benevolence, and heard the heart-rending statements and declarations, he was not surprised at the unanimous recommendation, but he was surprised at the opposition-for opposition it was, to the grant-he felt, too, that the amendment went to take away from Grand Lodge the power of doing good, and vest that power in an unconstitutional manner elsewhere; he fully agreed with the original motion and should oppose the amendment.

Dr. CRUCEFIX in reply, made a solemn declaration that there was no foundation for the report as to the sum stated to have been given, and he regretted to have heard Brother Masons so ready not only to listen to an idle tale, but to foist forward such tale as an actual occurrence. Oh, that medical men (observed Dr. C.) would be but true to one another, and not allow false report to defile the temple of truth! Unprepared as he was for the un-Masonic revelation, as well as for the non-chivalric treatment of a lady's case, he would throw himself, were that lady pre

sent, on her sense of honour and truth; and, as she was necessarily absent, he would boldly deny any foundation for the imputation cast on her petition-petition indeed! it was a great moral claim-the term petition might be a legal phrase but it was not a proper one; he would not temporize with principles-every thing proper should be freely spoken-it was by the sacrifice of truth that error obtained power. Talk of fourteen hundred guineas!-why, such was the price of a firstrate practice, and with the aid of personal introduction by the party about to resign, and yet not even whispering an intention of the transfer; yet, in the matter in question, there is nothing but the bare tenancy of a house-with the name on the door, certainly, but the late possessor thereof the tenant of a tomb! Report, if such ever existed, had magnified a promise from the gentleman who had occupied the house, to make some allowance to Mrs. Eccles as a premium for what beneficial practice he might possibly attain in consequence of taking the house-it was revolting to him to be forced into these delicate but unnecessary disclosures-he did not envy the feelings of those who had thrust it on him, but could not help reflecting on the moral contrast that would have been shewn had his lamented friend been living and called on to express the sentiments of his noble heart in the possible case of the widow of a professional man-If he had occupied time, he could not avoid it, and hopefully besought the liberality of the Grand Lodge.

The amendment was then put and lost.

Lord WORSLEY-I shall now put the original motion.

On which another amendment was moved and seconded-" That the President, Vice President of the Board of General Purposes, and the Grand Secretary, should be a committee to wait on Mrs. Eccles, and satisfy themselves of her statement"-to which Bro. Dobie added, "and, if satisfied, to draw a check immediately for the amount." The addition had seemingly so much honesty of purpose that it was carried in the affirmative.

Lord WORSLEY then called on Dr. Crucefix to proceed with his notice of motion for annuities to widows of Masons, which Dr. C. expressed his readiness to bring forward, but observed that as his lordship and the Grand Lodge had been so long occupied-and so unexpectedly he would cheerfully defer his motion until the next quarterly communication, but on the express understanding that his motion should take precedence.

The Grand Lodge was then adjourned.

GRAND CONCLAVE OF ENGLAND AND WALES.

COMMITTEE OF GENERAL PURPOSES.-July 3.-Present, Sir Knights Stuart, Udall, Goldsworthy, Leeson, Crucefix, Gibbins, Wackerbarth, White, Claydon.

It was resolved, That the statutes, with the exception of the sections relating to the paraphernalia, be printed.

That Sir Knights White, Claydon, and Crucefix be a Sub-Committee to carry the above resolution into effect, and that as soon as the consent and signature of the Most Eminent Grand Master Sir Knight Col. C.

VOL. IV.

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