The Grand Lodge Of Ireland And The Grand Orient Of France.

jurisdiction . " This resolution is of a very sweeping character , and doubtless our Irish brethren , if it bo possible , will find somo means of relaxing its stringency in favour of the vciy numerous aud respectable section of French Masons who still , in their heart of heart , stand

firmly by the old and venerated landmarks of the Craft . But , considering that tho Grand Lodge of Ireland interchanged representatives with the Grand Oii ' enfc of France , we do not see how it was possible , albeit tho duty must havo been an exceedingly painful one , for the former to

have pursued any other course . It is indisputable that the Grand Orient , under its amended Constitutions , is not a body of Freemasonry at all , for it denies absolutely , as we havo already shown , one of tho fundamental bases of our Fraternity . Tho spirit of intolerance has no abiding place

among English , Scotch , or Irish Masons . The tolerance we pride ourselves upon is that which recognises all kinds of relig ious and moral virtue ; all else than this we set ourselves sternly against , just as we abhor and remove dirt ,

which has beeu properly defined to bo " matter in tho wrong place . " However , tho whole subject is of such importance that we shall make a point of returning to it again next week .

Lodges Of Instruction.

LODGES OF INSTRUCTION .

WE have more than once offered remarks on the extreme importance of Lodges of Instruction . Their work is done quietly and unostentatiously , but it invariably has the merit of being done satisfactorily , and the results of their labours are always in the very highest degree beneficial . It is indeed well nigh impossible to

determine even approximately the extent of service which a well conducted Lodge of this character is capable of rendering in the cause of Freemasonry . Our Lodges as a rule meet on only a limited number of evenings in tho

course of the year , and unless a brother has a tolerably wide circle of acquaintances in the brotherhood his prospects of acquiring the requisite knowledge of his duties are but few and far between . Indeed one who confined himself to

attending tho regular duties of his Lodge and no other might be a member of the Masonic body for many years and yet acquire but a very slight knowledge of the Craft . Hence the value of Lodges of Instruction , which meeting weekly for a considerable portion of tho year , enable brethren to

acquire in a few months a pretty intimate acquaintance with the ceremonies and lectures . Under these circumstances it will be apparent that ifc is impossible too much can be done to strengthen and confirm their position . At present , as our readers are aware , they are

held cither " under the sanction of a regular warranted Lodge , or by the special licence and authority of the Grand Master . " This afc first sight would seem to be a very proper arrangement , and so far as regards the latter alternative there could not be the slightest possible objection to

it . Even a regular Lodge can derive its existence from no higher authority , and therefore nothing can be more complete or satisfactory than the licence under which a Lodge of Instruction thus authorised fulfils its appointed duties . But it seems to us that something more is needed in the

case of those which derive their being from regularly warranted Lodges . It is true they trace their origin mediately to the Grand Master , but this strikes us as being a somewhat lame arrangement ; at all events , it is one which , in our humble -judgment , is capable of some

improvement , and as all are anxiously striving to better their knowledge of Masonic working , we see no just cause or impediment why Lodges of Instruction should not in all cases be established on a more solid basis . We do not say this for the purpose of offering a suggestion and nothing

more . We have spoken of their great value , and on general grounds we think ifc advisable there should be something further done in order to attach a greater degree of importance to what , after all said and done , arc absolutely indispensable to the welfare of the Craft . It is not , however ,

enough that we should urge a question of this kind on general grounds only . It is far better we should advance some special reasons , and these it is in our power to do .

Let us , in the first place , point out that the existing law would bo absolutel } -, or at all events as nearly as possible , perfect , if every Lodge of Instruction were specially attached to the regular warranted Lodge from which ifc

Lodges Of Instruction.

derives its authority . This , of course , is the case afc present , but only to a very limited extent . Wo mean this . If tho Lodgo of Instruction were composed wholly or in greater part of members of the parent Lodgo , there would then be a most intimate—we may almost describe ifc

as a complete connection between tho two . But our readers know that Lodges of Instruction in London aro composed of members gathered together from all tho four quarters of the metropolis , and what is still moro to our purpose , that tho members of the parent Lodge in many

cases form , as regards mere numbers , but a very feeble minority . It is inevitable , of course , under these circumstances , that the interest which tho Lodgo takes in the working of its Lodge of Instruction is of a feeble and intermittent nature . There is no close tie existing between

them , save and except that of the authorisation granted by tho former to tho latter , an authorisation which may bo withdrawn after due notice given in accordance with the

law . There is , then , as matters now stand , but little interest in common between the two , but this interest would be intensified if the connecting link were appreciably strengthened . This is one of the two alternatives we have before

us ; the other is that all Lodges of Instruction should derive the authority under which they work from the Grand Master alone . Wo see no objection to their remaining , as now , nominally under the wing of what AVO have designated the parent Lodge ; but let them have a special

Warrant of their own , so that they may be directly , as they are now only indirectly , responsible to tho highest authority . Tho law makes the Lodge which issues its sanction and those to Avhom it is issued responsible for the proceedings , and likewise that the Avorking has

been formally recognised by the Grand Master . This is admirable in theory , but when it comes to a matter of practice , we feel bound to say there is but little at tho bottom of it . It strike us the parent Lodge seldom troubles itself about its Lodge of Instruction ; and as the majority of

those who belong to tho latter are not members of the former , any interference on its part , though perfectly legitimate , might lead to many unpleasantnesses . The chance of this happening would be prevented , if the Lodge of Instruction were in all material points independent

of all but the central authority . It must also be borne in mind that in the event of anything causing the dissolution of the parent Lodge , the blow falls likewise on the Lodge of Instruction . Even a less serious calamity than this might cause a disruption of the proceedings in a

Lodge of Instruction . A case occurred not long since , m Avhich a Lodge was suspended for a given period from its functions , and in consequence the Lodge of Instruction Avhich had been sanctioned by it Avas obliged to suspend its operations likewise . This would have caused no slight

inconvenience even in the most central district of London , though it would havo been open to duly qualified members to seek instruction elsewhere in the immediate neighbourhood ; but in the case we are alluding to , the Lodge Avas situate in the outskirts of the metropolis , where Lodges

are more widely scattered . Indeed the nearest Lodge of Instruction Avas distant several miles . This necessarily involved a considerable amount of hardship on brethren Avho had committed no fault , aud amounted , in fact , to the

infliction of punishment on innocent as well as guilty . Such a result can never have been contemplated by tho authorities , nor could it possibly happen Avere all Lodges of Instruction directly sanctioned by the Grand Master . Considering the amount of useful work these homes of

Masonic education are doing , we do not think they can be too carefully fostered by those in high places . There is one other plan by which the end we have in view might bo equally well secured . Let the Emulation Lodge of Improvement be directly sanctioned by the Grand Master Avith full

power to authorise all other Lodges of Instruction in the Metropolitan district . This would have the two-fold advantage of saving additional labour at Freemasons' Hall and of placing all Lodges of this kind under ono central

authority . As this only occurred to us at the moment of Avriting , Ave do not wish to lay particular stress upon it . One thing is certain : too much cannot be done to guard those Lodges from any interruption , especially of the character we have mentioned , in the course of their labours .

ERRATUM . —In onr footnote to pago 290 of last week ' s issue ( article Forewarned—Forearmed ) , Chapter 1 G 2 should bo 1 G 0 , i . e ., tho Temperance .