A Burning Question.

A BURNING QUESTION .

A N issue to be raised on Wednesday next , at the *¦ meeting of Grand Lodge , opens up a question of great interest to the Craft—one that has lately come prominently to the front and is , we are of opinion , destined to cause no small amount of trouble and

discontent in the future . We refer to the question of non-confirmation of minutes , not that we wish to imply that it is any new subject , or that there has recently been any change in the law on the question ,

but it must be recognised that a great change has lately taken place in the popular idea as to what is right in this direction , and we shall be very much surprised if the change does not lead to squabbles and discord in our midst .

Up till within the last few weeks the popular view —right or wrong—was that the confirmation , of the minutes of a Lodge meeting meant an endorsement by

the members that they were correctly recorded ; now it seems to be legally decided that confirmation means reconsideration of every item referred to , and under such circumstances it would seem that no action of a

Lodge is safe against interference , resulting in reversal or revision . The case to come before Grand Lodge supplies the strongest evidence of the absurdity and the mischief of such a principle , and we can only hope

that a few more similar cases may arise , so as to bring the ruling of the legal advisers of the Craft into such ridicule as will of itself prove fatal to their views , ere too much trouble has been caused in pur Lodges to admit of so easy an adjustment . It seems that for some reason the members of

the Stuart Lodge , No . 16 32 , refused to confirm their minutes so far as related to the election of Worshipful Master for the year , and although we admit there should be some machinery by which a Lodge could

refuse to instal an elected Master under very exceptional circumstances , they should not have the power of upsetting the election for some mere whim or caprice . The selection of a Worshipful Master , in

accordance with the regulations of the Craft , would seem to be a question of fact , and the confirmation of the minutes should only be allowed to deal with it

as such , for if the whole election is to be fought over again—although happily there . are very few actual contests in connection with this Office—we shall never

have an end to the matter , in the few Lodges where opinions are divided as to who is the 'most deserving of promotion . It seems to us the question to be decided on the confirmation of the minutes is whether Bro . So and So

was elected to the chair of Worshipful Master , not to re-open the question as to who is best entitled to the honour , or who can secure the most support among

the Brethren , and it appears to be so foreign to the principles of the Craft to re-open the question in this indirect manner that we venture to urge a full consideration of the whole subject . It is all very well for

A Burning Question.

our Grand Lodge to be ruled by similar procedure to that which finds favour in the Law Courts , but in many cases law is not exactly equity , and in many more it will be found that law is not

Masonry , as we understand it—Brotherly Love ; Live and let live—and before Grand Lodge takes any action on the subject to be brought before it next

Wednesday it would certainly be best to settle what is Masonic—not necessarily legal , from the outsider ' s point of view—in connection with the confirmation of Lodge minutes .

Cornwall.

CORNWALL .

THE annual meeting of this Provincial Grand Lodge is to be held at Falmouth , on Tuesday , 13 th September , at 11 a . m . Brethren are asked to assemble at 10 . 30 a . m ., as the esteemed Provincial Grand Master the Right Hon , the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe Past Deputy Grand Master of England

will open the Prov . Grand Lodge punctually as usually . The minutes of the last Prov . G . L ., held at Liskeard , 31 st August 18 97 , will be read for confirmation , after which the roll of Prov . Officers and of the thirty Lodges will be called , and the annual reports of the Prov . Grand Treasurer Bro . R . L .

Randall P . M . 330 , Bodmin , and the Prov . Grand Secretary Bro . E . D . Anderton P . G . D . of England , & c . will be read . Other reports will also be submitted , including those of the Cornwall Masonic Annuity and Benevolent Fund and

Committee of Relief ( Bro . E . D . Anderton Secretary ) , the Cornwall Masonic Charity Association ( Bro . Gilbert B . Pearce Prov . S . G . W . Secretary ) , and the votes for the Central Masonic Charities , London ( Bro . Bernard F . Edyvean Assist . G . D . of C . of England ) .

For the Cornwall Masonic Annuity Fund there are five candidates for annuities ( four brethren and one widow ); two also petition for an increase of the annual payments . For educational grants there are two candidates , and voting papers will be duly distributed accordingly .

The Officers of the Provincial Grand Lodge for the ensuing year will be appointed and invested by Lord Mount Edgcumbe . Other formal business will also be transacted .. The Prov . G . L . adjourns at noon , to form a procession and attend the Parish Church , when a sermon will be preached by

the Prov . Grand Chaplain , and a collection made , which will be divided between the local authorities and Masonic objects . The luncheon will be served at the Duke of Cornwall Hotel , to be presided over by the Prov . G . M . Arrangements have been made _ for the accommodation of at least 300 . A large gathering is anticipated .

At a meeting of the East Suffolk County Council , on Tuesday , Lord Henniker Provincial Grand Master Suffolk was presented with his portrait , painted in oils by Mr . A . S . Cope . His lordship was Chairman of the Council up to the

time of his appointment to the Governorship of the Isle of Man , and the portrait in question was subscribed for by over 300 residents in recognition of the valuable services he had rendered to the county . The picture , which is an excellent likeness , was exhibited at the Royal Academy .

The Southern Star Lodge of Instruction , No . 1158 , has removed from the Sir Sidney Smith , Chester Street , to Bro . W . Rugg ' s , the " Ship " Tavern , Kennington Road , where future meetings will be held every Thursday evening , at 8 o ' clock .