MASONIC INTELLIGENCE.

SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER OF ROYAL ARCH MASONS GF ENGLAND.

QUARTERLY CONVOCATION, FEBRUARY 4, 1846.

Present, E. C. R. Alston, T. H. Hall, and B. B. Cabbell, as Z. H. J., with other present and past Grand Officers, and present and past Principals of subordinate Chapters.

The minutes of the last Grand Chapter were read and confirmed. Two new Charters were granted.

The business was not otherwise important, and the Grand Chapter adjourned at an early hour.

UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND.

COMMITTEE OF MASTERS.

February 25.-Present, Bros. Mc Mullen, Savage, Goldsworthy, and L. Chandler.

The Annual Audit reported the accounts of the past year.

The Report of the Board of General Purposes was read-the financial statement was in all respects satisfactory, there being nearly 1000l. to the credit of the Fund of Benevolence, and nearly 600l. to the credit of the Board of General Purposes.

The Board recommended the addition of Fifty pounds annually to the salary of the first clerk, Bro. Wm. Farnfield, as a reward for twenty years' services.

They had reprimanded the Master of the Neptune Lodge, No. 22, for misconduct, and admonished the Master of the Robert Burns, 25, for making an incorrect return of a petitioning Brother; they had also severely reprimanded Bro. W. H. Carlin, P. G. Steward, for entering Grand Lodge in December as a Grand Steward.*

NOTICES OF MOTIONS.

Bro. R. G. ALSTON, J. G. W.-"That any motion rejected, or not confirmed by Grand Lodge, be not brought forward again for two years." Bro. SCARBOROUGH." That twenty pounds annually be granted by Grand Lodge in aid of the library-and that ten pounds be allowed to the assistant clerks to attend until nine in the evening."

Bro. DR. CRUCEFIX.-" That the sum of three hundred pounds be annually allotted to from the fund of Masonic Benevolence, and applied to the payment of annuities to widows of annuitants on the Royal Masonic Benevolent Annuity Fund, under such regulations as the Committee of that Charity may submit for the approval of Grand Lodge."

* In the case of the Robert Burns' Lodge, we think the matter might have been passed over, the offence, if any, was too slight for censure; and in the case of Bro. Carlin, a direction not to repeat the indiscretion would have been more dignified than a severe reprimand, but as Rhyme has its Reason, so it appears that Law has its Rule.

QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION.

March 4.-Present, R. W. Bro. R. Alston, P. G. M. Essex, as G. M. R. W. Major Shute, P. G. M., Bristol, as D. G. M.

R. G. Alston, J. G. W., as S. G. W.

B. B. Cabbell, P. J. G. W., as J. G. W., Together with several Present and Past Grand Officers, Grand Stewards, the Masters, Past Masters, and Wardens of the Grand Stewards Lodge, and the same of many other Lodges.

The minutes of the last Quarterly Communication were then read; previous to their confirmation, Dr. CRUCEFIX expressed his regret that such a mere skeleton of the admirable address of the M. W. Grand Master on the great question of the Prussian Lodges and the Jewish Freemasons had been suffered to be recorded, it was more than unjust to their Grand Master.

The Grand Master in the Chair coincided in the opinion. The minutes were then confirmed.

The Right Hon. the Earl of ZETLAND was then, by general acclamation, elected Most Worshipful Grand Master for the year ensuing. The Brethren rose simultaneously and paid his Lordship grand honours.

THE REPORTS of the Boards of Benevolence were approved.

THE REPORT of the Board of General Purposes was then read and ordered to be entered on the minutes.

Bro. R. G. ALSTON withdrew his notice of motion "to prevent any rejected or non-confirmed motions from being renewed for two years.'

THE MASONIC LIBRARY.

Bro. SCARBOROUGH rose and addressed the Grand Lodge on the subject of his motion for granting twenty pounds annually in support of the Masonic Library, and expressed his surprise that so vital a subject, which had occupied the attention of that highly educated and talented Brother, the late Brother Harrison, should have been suffered to drop. After a lapse of so many years there was nothing but empty shelves, and no prospect of any books; this was a discredit to the Grand Lodge, and a disgrace to those to whom the collection was entrusted. hoped the subject would elicit opinions from those better qualified than himself, and he would therefore not occupy the time of the Grand Lodge any further.

He

Bro. CRUCEFIX briefly seconded the motion, and intimated that the original projector of the library was not the late Bro. Harrison, but the living Bro. Henderson, Past Grand Registrar, a Brother to whom the Craft was greatly indebted, but for nothing more so than for the zeal and spirit he infused at the time into the Brethren in support of the library. He (Bro. C.) was among the first contributors, and he remembered to have heard the late Lord Monson state his admiration of the proposition, and that he would send his contributions, and among them an antique stone chair for the museum. Dr. Oliver and others had sent in contributions. But for some untoward circumstances which damped the ardour for intelligence at the time, the library would have been by this time extensive, it was not too late to make it so, and not suffer a libel on the Craft that it was behind every Mechanic's Institution in the world.

Bro. Mc MULLEN said it was impossible to form a library, that some

time since 100l. was voted by the Grand Lodge, and could not be expended, that few or no persons called to examine the books, &c. that were collected, and that if they went into the subject to the extent required, the sum moved for was too small for any useful purpose. When the 1007. was expended, the Board could apply for another grant. Bro. ELLIOTT spoke at some length and with much point in favour of the grant, and was satisfied, if there were a proper Library, he for one should be glad to avail himself of its inspection, and that many persons, to his knowledge, had called without being able to find the necessary accommodation.

Bro. DOBIE enquired of the Grand Secretary how much of the 100%. had been expended, and was informed about ten, certainly not more than twelve pounds. He observed that the hours would be inconvenient and the remuneration insufficient.

Some other Brethren stated that to their knowledge the want of accommodation alone had prevented them from taking advantage of the present Library.

Bro. SCARBOROUGH in reply observed, that having hardly expected to be seconded, he could but rejoice in the discussion, which, whatever might be the result, proved the necessity of enquiry into the case. It was curious to look at the inconsistencies of some who had addressed the Grand Lodge. Some members of the Board argued as if a Library could not be procured, yet if they looked at page 124 of the Calendar, they would find not only that between two and three hundred works has been collected, but that the Grand Lodge had determined that general works of history and science should be procured, yet strange to say, the Board suspended their labours and kept 907. unemployed. He did not advocate so much Masonic as general literature; the Masonic works, even those by Preston, Oliver, and others were, in his opinion, all trash, and he called on the veteran Bro. Goldsworthy to say what books on Masonry he had ever read.

Bro. CRUCEFIX, "I hope the observation on Dr. Oliver's Masonic reputation arose from inadvertence."

Bro. GOLDSWORTHY, “I have never read any Masonic works but the Ahiman Rezon and the Book of Constitutions."

Bro. SCARBOROUGH then concluded his address. On a division the motion was lost.

Bro. SCARBOROUGH rose and expressed his hope that the remainder of the 1007. would be expended in a proper manner.

Bro. Mc MULLEN then moved the addition of 50%. annually to the salary of Bro. W. Farufield, and grounded his motion on the continued services of that Brother for twenty years, which being seconded,

Bro. CRUCEFIX objected to the grant, for the reason that the salary had been already twice raised, and that in addition Bro. F. received 50%. as Secretary to the Benevolent Annuity Fund, which made his salary altogether nearly, if not quite, 250l. per annum, an amount in his opinion, sufficient not only for services rendered, but for the requirements of any respectable person. That any superfluous means should be devoted to the legitimate claims of the aged Brethren. If any exception should be taken to his view of the case, on the plea that 50%. was paid by the Benevolent Annuity Fund and not by Grand Lodge, it should be observed that the services of Bro. F. were abstracted in proportion from the Grand Lodge. He considered that further assistance was required for the duties of the Secretary's office, and not

increased payment. He at the same time disclaimed any intention to disparage the personal character or services of the Brother in question, but that the grant was uncalled for, and not supported by any necessity whatever; he should therefore move as an amendment, "that such portion of the Report of the Board of General Purposes be not confirmed."

Some discussion ensued, and the original motion was carried by a large majority.

ANNUITIES TO WIDOWS.

The Grand Master in the Chair then called on Bro. Crucefix to proceed with his motion for Annuities to Widows, which having been read by the Grand Secretary,

Bro. CRUCEFIX briefly entered into the explanation of the subject, which was of too obvious and important a nature to require a lengthened development; it was a subject that came home to every thinking mind and feeling heart-that the Grand Lodge having that evening rewarded the twenty years' services of their clerk-would they refuse to cheer the desolate home of the bereaved widow, more especially, as the means at hand were most ample for the purpose; was she, whose husband had by her permission supported Freemasonry, to be told when Providence had removed her sole support, that she was to be cast on the desolation of poverty in mockery and derision? He spoke with less pain and greater hope than ever, in the belief that the claims of the widow would at length be met by a just and honourable acknowledgment, he would say no more, and hardly anticipating any occasion to reply, he moved the resolution, which was seconded by Bro. the Rev. W.J. Carver.

Bro. DOBIE thought that Bro. Crucefix having held up his hand against the grant to Bro. Farnfield, was not warranted in alluding to that matter in the support of his own motion, to which, however, he (Bro. D.) did not otherwise object, than that it was not sufficiently definite, and should be deferred for consideration and amendment. He would enquire if the widows were to undergo election; in fact, there required many alterations in the motion before it could succeed.

Bro. PEARCE (Penzance) observed that widows at present were relieved by the Board of Benevolence; - could not that mode of relief be

increased?

Bro. Mc MULLEN thought that a future time the motion would be entertained with some prospect of success, but not at present. The Committee of the Benevolent Annuity Fund, at the commencement of their labours, intimated their desire, when that system was matured, to consider the subject of annuities to widows, but they had twenty-five annuitants, and a vast number of candidates, from which but few could be selected at the next annual meeting; he trusted, therefore, the mover would withdraw the motion for the present.

Bro. WHITE (G. S.) entered into a very elaborate statement of the Fund of Benevolence from 1840 to the present time, shewing that, although for the first three years of that period, the Grand Treasurer had always been in advance; that, subsequently, the case was otherwise, for that the balance had so gradually increased in its favour, that on an average of the last seven years there was an excess of income over expenditure of two hundred and fifty pounds. He thought it his duty to give these particulars, but was not desirous of offering any opinion.

Bro. CRUCEFIX, in reply, congratulated the Grand Lodge on the mani

fest advance towards a just appreciation of the cause he had espo used. It had been observed, that because he held up his hand against a grant he did not approve, he should not have used that case in illustration of his own argument, nothing could be more fallacious, but, for a moral contrast, many things would go wrong. He should always act as he thought best for his case, bearing in view the necessity of good manners. He hardly expected his motion to pass exactly as he had framed it, but it was open to improvement. It had been observed, that the widow was relieved at the Board of Benevolence, and that such relief might be increased. True, the widow was relieved by a five-pound note once, and once only, but where was the annuity? He had been told that evening, that the Committee of the Annuity Fund intended some time or other to think about the widows. He (Bro. C.) implored the Grand Lodge not to postpone until to-morrow what might be done to-day; it was unjust, and unfeeling; if his motion did not go far enough, because it limited the benefit to the widows of annuitants, he was most grateful for the correction, for he would open the door to all who were deserving. Some considered that his having increased the amount from 2007. to 300l. required explanation-the increase in amount arose from very serious deliberation, and he most cordially thanked the Grand Secretary who had most clearly proved an excess of income over expenditure of 2501. for the past seven years, but clearly of upwards of 400l. for the past three years! Under all circumstances, however promises might be made, he distrusted them all, nothing but action would satisfy the case. He had hoped for a most liberal amendment, for which he should have voted in preference to his own motion; it was sufficient for him to have brought the subject forward, he should have been thankful to have yielded the palm to any other Brother, but in the absence of any amendment, he certainly would not withdraw but press his motion to a division.

The question being put, the motion was lost. The Grand Lodge was then closed and adjourned.

GRAND CONCLAVE (OF ENGLAND AND WALES) OF THE ROYAL ORDER OF H. R. D. M., K. D. S. H.,

PALESTINE.

(Circular.)

Sir Knight,-You are requested to attend the duties of the GRAND CONCLAVE at FREEMASONS' HALL, on the 30th day of January, 1846, at THREE o'clock in the afternoon precisely, for the purpose of nominating a MOST EMINENT AND SUPREME GRAND MASTER of the Order of Masonic Knights Templar.

A. L. 5850, A. D. 1846, a. o. 728, A. c. 532.

W. H. WHITE, Grand Chancellor and Registrar.

Freemasons' Hall, London,

15th January, 1846.