UNITED GRAND LODGE. Bro. SWINFEX EADY, Q.C, P.G. Stwd. : Most Worshipful Grand Master in the chair and Brethre n ,—It is now my pleasing duty and also my If we may judge by the number of the brethren who recorded their voles very great privilege to have the honour of proposing for election as Most for the three candidates for the office of Grand Treasurer during the ensuing Worshipful Grand Master for the ensuing yea r, His Royal Highness the 12 months, the attendance at the Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge Prince of Wales. (A pplause). As you all know, I think , this is the 21st on Wednesday was far less considerable than it was at the corresponding time Ma:onry in England has approachtd his R oyal Highness and asked Communication in 1894. This may have been due to the influenza or more him to accept the highest honour they are able to confer upon any member probably to a number of causes, but though the attendance was far smaller, of the Cralt, and in accepting which he confers upon them the highest the excitement was almost as great as it was at the contest in which the honour and distinction he is able to bestow 011 them as members of the Craft. present Gran d Treasurer, Bro. Sir J. D IMSDALE , secured the prize ; and May that connection between his Royal Highness and the Craft , formed most when it became known that Bro. STILUS had defeated his more formidable auspiciously many y ears since, continue for a long time, and remain with us opponent— Bro. Alderman VAUGHAN* M ORGAN — by a substantial majority as Jong as his Royal Highness is alive. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) His of votes, it is needless to say, the rejoicing among his supporters was most Royal Highness has conferred great and numerous benefits on the Craft ; he enthusiastic. But as will have been seen from the paper of agenda which has ever taken the greatest interest in the Masonic Charities : the Boys' and we published last week, there was a very considerable programme of im- Girls' Schools owe many benefits to his constant attention , and the Benevo- portant business to be transacted after the voting for the Grand Treasurer- lent Institution is also indebted to his endeavours. (Hear, hear.) Many of ship was over, not the least important matte r being the recommendation us remember that great ceremony a few years ago, when over ^50,000 was contained in the Report of the Board of General Purposes , to the effect that subscribed for the benefit of the Girls' School. We know the new Hall and the Colonial Board should be abolished , and an entirely new General Board Wing for the Institution which have since been built , and that much of the constituted , which shall be invested with all the powers heretofore delegated assistance—the pecuniary benevolence poured forth on that occasion by the to the Board of General Purposes and Colonial Board separately. The re- Masons of England in support of the Girls' School , was owing to the interest commendation was adopted , and referred for further consideration to the his Royal Highness has taken in the Girls ' Institution , and the earnest way former, which will prepare and submit to Grand Lodge at its next Quarterly in which he has exerted himself on its behalf. And when the Hall and Communication in June such re-arrangements as may be necessary for the Wing were opened , we know her R oya l Highness the Princess of Wales transaction of business,and such a le-organisation of the General Board as and her daughters honoured the ceremony in company with his Roya l High- may be thought desirable. As regards the several Appeals which were ness. (Hear, hear, and renewed applause.) In the cause of the Boys' addressed to Grand Lodge against certain decisions of the local or general School and the Aged Institution , we know his Royal Highness has also shown authorities, it must suffice for the present if we stale, as regards A ppeal No. 2 the liveliest interest. (Hear, hear.) I think if the Masons of England — that Bro. W. M AKEPIECE , W.M. Zeiland-in-the-East Lodge, No. 508, were asked for what purpose Masonry exists, and to give some Singapore—thedecision of the D.D.G.M.and Dist . Board of General Purposes reason for the existence of Masons, it would be enough:for them to of the District Grand Lodge of the Eastern Archipelago , in which the re fer and point to the great Charitable Institution s which Masons support. decision of Bro. Makepiece, as W.M., was reversed , was upheld , and that This, it seems to me, and this alone, would form sufficient ground of justifi- under the law as now expounded , a brother's resignation of his membership cation. (Hear, hear.) In the cause of the Charities of the Order and in of a lodge is not to be regarded as final until it has been communicated to all other matters concerning the Craft, his Royal Highness has always ihe lodge. Consequently, if a brother forwards a letter in which he resigns exhibited the keenest interest. And not only is this the case with respect his membership to the Secretary of his lodge, and follows it up to the Freemasons of Eng land ; it is also the case with regard to foreign with a second letter in which he withdraws such resignation , then , in countries that he has visited, for he has left there evidence of the extensive interest he has in the Craft . (Renewed applause.) I believe that during the event of the earlier letter not havirg been communicated to ' the lodge, his tender of resignation is void and of none thc years that he has presided over us, the number of lodges on the English effect and hc remains a member of the lod ge. The only misf >rtune about roll has been about doubled. In lh -se 21 years about 1200 lodges have this decision is that , if our memory serve us, it is in direct conflict with one been added to the list of those which existed when ha first occupied .the which Grand Lodge adopted , on the advice of the Grand Registrar, only a chair. This, I believe, is largely due to his R oya l Highness being our Grand few years sgo. Then it was ruled that once a brother sent in his resignation Master. His Royal Highness has not only evinced an interest in the Craft, lie ceased to be a member of a lodge, and that, no matter what he might but he has aho shown an interest in others of his own Royal Family, and everyone brought into contact with his Royal Highness is interested in propose to do subsequently in the way of withdrawing such resig- ( " nation , or whether the letter had been communicated to the honouring the raft . Two brothers of his Royal Highness joined the Craft, lod ge or not, his resignation stood , and his re-instatement as a and one has now become one of its greatest supporters — his R'lyal member was possible only after the usual proposal in one open lodge Highness the Duke of Connaught , Provincial Grand Master for Suss >x. and ballot at the next. Under the new exposition of the law, a brother may Other members of his family have done the same, and I am sure it is with- withdraw his resignation if there has not been time to submit to his lodge, out presumption I may express the hope that when the fulness of time has the letter in which he notified it. As regards the appeal of Bro. W. F. come, and when his Royal Highness will be no longer with us, we may have L AMONBY against the action of the President of the Colonial Board in order- the estimable honour, pleasure, and privilege of having his son , that we may ing him to withdraw from a certain meeting of the said Board , it will be seen have the pnde of handing down the traditions , a link in which was un- from our [report that it was withdrawn by permission of Grand Lodge, fortunately broken by the death of his Royal Hig hness the Duke of Clarence, It js just possible we may have occasion to refer to portions of the busi- and that many of us who are present to-night may see on some future occa- ness transacted in Grand Lodge on Wednesday in some future article. sion the son prepared to follow in his father 's footsteps. (Loud and long continued cheering.) When saying this , I know I am only expressing a wish dearest to every Mason 's heart. 1 must add one word more. His UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND. Royal Highness has not only found a place in the heart of every member of the Craft but in the heart of every subject of the realm. I am confident I express the wish of every one when I say that I ask that his Royal Highness the Quarterly Communication of United Grand Lodge of Free and may be elected by acclamation our Grand Master. (Applause). Accepted Masons of England was held on Wednesday, at Freemasons' Bro. E. ST. CLAIR , P.G. Stwd.—Most Worshipful Grand Master Hall, London. Grand Lodge was summoned for two o'clock, p.m., for the in the greater chair, in rising with pleasure to second the proposition th <t his Royal Highness convenience of the large number of brethre n, who it was known the Prince of Wales be our Grand Ma-ter would attend lor the ensuing year, I may say for the purpose of voting in the election of brand Treasurer it is a most pleasing coincidence that at the very time when his Royal for the coming year.