The Minutes of the Quarterly Communication of 12 March 2008 and the Annual Investiture of 30 April 2008 were confirmed

Annual dues

The annual dues (including VAT) payable to Grand Lodge for each member of every lodge for 2009 were approved as follows: in an unattached lodge in England and Wales, £40; in a lodge in a Metropolitan Area or a Province, £23.50; in a lodge in a District, £5.80 and in a lodge abroad not in a District, £9.80.

Fees

Fees (exclusive of VAT) payable for registration, certificates and dispensations were approved as follows:
     Registration of a Grand Officer, present or past, on first appointment, £93; a Deputy or Assistant Metropolitan Grand Master or a Metropolitan Grand Inspector, £51.50; a Deputy or Assistant Provincial or District Grand Master, £51.50 and a holder of Overseas Grand Rank, £20.50.
     A mason, inclusive of Grand Lodge Certificate (initiation, or joining from a lodge not under the Grand Lodge) in an unattached Lodge in England and Wales, £51.50; in a lodge in a Metropolitan Area or a Province, £46.50; in a lodge in a District, £28.50; in a lodge abroad not under a District, £40.
     The replacement or amendment of a Grand Lodge Certificate, £51.50; a certificate for a Serving Brother, £28.50; a dispensation by the Grand Master, £26; a dispensation by the Grand Master nunc pro tunc, £52.

Grand Charity contribution

A recommendation that the 2009 annual contribution should remain at £13 for each member of a lodge in a Metropolitan Area or a Province, or in England and Wales that is unattached, was approved.

Prestonian Lectures

2007: The Grand Secretaries 1813-1980: The Lecturer, Dr. R.B.F. Khambatta, Past District Grand Master for Pakistan, had informed the Board that in addition to the four official deliveries to Reading Lodge of Union No. 414 (Berkshire), Lodge Faith No. 2438 (Suffolk), North London Installed Masters Lodge No. 9784 and the District Grand Lodge of Bombay and Northern India, the Lecture was also delivered on 19 other occasions.
     2008: The Language of the Ritual: The Prestonian Lecturer for 2008 is R.D.T. Sillett. Four official Lectures for 2008 have been or will be given under the auspices of Christ’s Hospital Lodge No. 2650 (London), Warwickshire Installed Masters Lodge No. 4538, Torbay Masters Lodge No. 8227 (Devonshire) and the District Grand Lodge of East Africa.
     2009: J.S. Wade has been appointed Prestonian Lecturer for 2009. The title of his Lecture is Go you and do likewise: English Masonic processions from the 18th to the 20th centuries.
     Arrangements for the delivery of the Lectures to selected lodges will be considered by the Board in November.
     Applications from lodges should be made to the Grand Secretary through Metropolitan, Provincial or District Grand Secretaries.
     These are the only Lectures held under the authority of Grand Lodge. It is, therefore, hoped that applications will be made only by lodges prepared to afford facilities for all Freemasons in their area, as well as their own members, to participate and thus ensure an attendance worthy of the occasion.

Amalgamations

The following amalgamations were approved: Ley Spring Lodge No. 1598 with Lodge of Temperance in the East No. 898 (London); Electric Lodge No. 2087 with West London Lodge No. 7404 (Middlesex); Lutine Lodge No. 3049 with Fidentia Lodge No. 6272 (London).
     Oaklands Lodge No. 5356 and Corner Stone Lodge No. 6330 with Lodge of Industry No. 361 (Cheshire); Crusaders Lodge No. 5938 with Lodge of Fidelity No. 269 (East Lancashire); and Fleur De Lys Lodge No. 6479 and Lodge of United Hearts No. 6590 with Portsoken Lodge No. 5088 (London).

Erasure of lodges

Twenty-one lodges have closed as follows: Pembroke Lodge No. 1299 (West Lancashire); Peckham Lodge No. 1475 (London); Selwyn Lodge No. 1901 (London); Stanley of Preston Lodge No. 2600 (West Lancashire); Wimbledon Lodge No. 3160 (Surrey); City of London St Olave’s Lodge No. 3213 (London).
     Stockport Lodge No. 3656 (Cheshire); Rotarian Lodge No. 4195 (London); Old Hall Lodge No. 4601 (West Lancashire); Acanthus Lodge No. 4624 (West Lancashire); East Croydon Lodge No. 4667 (Surrey); Tolworth Lodge No. 5462 (Surrey); Hanworth Park Lodge No. 5634 (Middlesex); Handforth Lodge No. 5850 (Cheshire).
     Cyclist Filia Lodge No. 6409 (Surrey); Maeldune Lodge No. 6839 (Surrey); Lodge of Harmony No. 6888 (Warwickshire); Holders Hill Lodge No. 6908 (London); Kirkstone Lodge No. 7498 (West Lancashire); Hundred of Stoke Lodge No. 8345 (Buckinghamshire); Seven Sisters Lodge No. 8539 (Sussex).

Grand Lodge accounts 2007

The audited accounts of Grand Lodge for the year ended 31 December 2007 were adopted.

Grand Lodge auditors

Horwath Clark Whitehill LLP were reelected as Grand Lodge auditors.

Royal College of Surgeons

There was a presentation by the Royal College of Surgeons of England. (The College receives annual grants from the Craft out of the 250th Anniversary Fund, set up in 1967. Up to the end of 2007 grants totalling £3.51 million have been made.)

New lodges

Sportsmen’s Lodge No. 9841 (Bristol), warrant effective from 12 March 2008.

Grand Lodge meetings

The Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge will be held on 10 September and 10 December 2008 and 11 March, 29 April (Annual Investiture), 10 June and 9 September 2009.

Grand Chapter meetings

Supreme Grand Chapter will meet on 12 November 2008, 30 April and 11 November 2009.