The Revised Book Of Constitutions.

sponsible for returns , & o . to G . Lodge and may issue G . L . certificates . 112 . Ditto—and is to be supplied with latter in blank by G . Secretary .

113 . Lodges in Districts abroad to make returns in duplicate to G . Secretary . 114 . District G . Masters—to make returns and remittances to Grand Secretary . 115 . Ditto—Powers under dispensation to advance brethren to higher degree at short intervals .

G . Master . 8 . Payments to District fund . 9 . D . G . Master responsible foi returns , & c , ancl may issue G . L Certificates .

10 . To be supplied by G Secretary with forms of certi . ficato in blank . 11 . Returns to be made in dn plicate to the G . Secretary .

We cannot say we are altogether satisfied with the revised arrangement as proposed . We admit the existing

edition will be the better for some alterations and amendments , but there is a certain method in the arrangements . We have first the rules relating to Provincial or District Grand Master , with a foot note defining the latter , the Deputy Provincial Grancl Master , and other Provincial

Grand Officers , and Provincial Grand Stewards . In all these , with the said foot note as our guide , we presume the terms Provincial and District are interchangeable , unless otherwise stated , or where such interchange is obviously inadmissible . Then follow the rules relating to

Provincial Grnnd Lodges , and then those affecting District Grand Lodges . In the proposed ro-arrangement the same order and method are not observed . For instance , the whole of the group of regulations is headed " Provincial

and District Grand Lodges . " "No . 78 refers to Provincial Grand Lodges , No . 79 to District Grand Lodges , ancl Nos . 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 , 94 , 95 , 96 , 98 concern equally Provincial and District Grand Lodges , Masters , and Officers . Yet it is not till we reach No . 104 that we

arrive at a definition of what District Grancl Lodges and Masters are . Again , we have the Deputy Provincial Grand Master or Deputy District Grand Master referred to or specified in Nos . 78 , 79 , 80 , S 3 , 88 , and 89 , but the power of the Provincial Grancl Master to appoint a Deputy is not

mentioned till No . 90 . In Nos . 88 and 89 , the Deputy spoken of is that of the Provincial Grancl Master , ancl the same is the case with Nos . 91 ancl 92 , tho latter giving tho qualifications for the office , while nothing is said as to the Deputy District Grancl Master . If the foot note in the

existing Constitutions were either preserved as it is , or incorporated earlier in the text of the new edition ; and if in all tho rules wo have cited , here and elsewhere , so far

as may be necessary , the words or " District " were inserted after " Deputy Provincial , " the laws would be clearer and more accurate . These amendments will entail , comparatively speaking , no great amount of time or trouble .

Taking the new rules seriatim , we find No . 79 in two sections , the first conceiving the origin and conditions of existence of Provincial Grand Lodges , and the other their

condition on the death , resignation , & c , of the Provincial Grand Masters . This corresponds with Art . 7 , page 54 , and is far more compact , while it contains a new and salutary provision likewise .

REVISED EDITION . " 78 . Provincial grand lodge emanate from provincial grancl masters by virtue of the authority vested in them b y their patents of appointment from the grand master . It therefore fol .

lows that provincial grand lodges possess no other powers than those specified in these laws and regulations , and cannot meet but by the sanction of the provincial grand master or his

deputy . " On the death , resignation , suspension , or removal of the provincial grand master , his deputy shall perform all tho functions of provincial grand master

until a brother is duly appointed provincial grand master , or empowered to act as such by patent from tho grand master , ( 33 ) , but such deputy shall not thereby acquire the right to any additional rank . "

EXISTING EDITION . 7 . ( 54 ) . " The provincial grand lodge emanates from the au . thority vested in tho provincial grand master , ancl possesses no other powers than those specified . It therefore follows that

no provincial grand lodgo can meet but by tho sanction of the provincial grancl master or his deputy ; and that it ceases to exist on the death , resignation , suspension , or removal of the

provincial graud master , until a brother is duly appointed or em . powered to perform the functions of provincial grand master , by whose authority the provincial grancl lodge may be again established .

The Revised Book Of Constitutions.

From this it will be seen that , under the proposed new law , if it comes into force , the death , resignation , removal , & c , of the Prov . Grand Master does not destroy the organisation of the Prov . Graud Lodge , as is the case now . His Deput y may act in his stead until the appointment of a new

P . G . M ., or nntil the Grand Master has by patent placed tho Province in charge of the Grand Registrar . This will necessarily save much trouble , as may be jndged by the case of Essex , which but the other day had a complete Provincial organisation , which is now determined by the unexpected

death of Lord Tenterden . We are curious , however , to know how it is possible to prolong the patent of appointment dnring pleasure of the appointee of a chief who is either deceased , or has been permanently or temporarily discharged of his functions . Rule No . 88 begins , " The

provincial grand master , holding his office at the pleasure of the grand master , and the power of the deputy as well as of the provincial grand lodge emanating from the authority vested in the provincial grand master . " When , therefore , through death or from some other cause , there is

no longer a Provincial Grand Master , the power of the Deputy , and of Provincial Grand Lodge , which have emanated from the authority vested in the Provincial Grand Master , must of itself cease and determine . Common sense

suggests the adoption of such an arrangement as is proposed under the law as revised , but something will have to be done to prevent legal difficulties arising out of a legally-impossible extension of powers that have ceased .

The same query will arise in connection with No . 79 , which provides for the continuance of the Dist . G . Lodge and the exercise of the Dist . G . Master ' s functions on the death , or removal through other cause , of the Dist . G . Master . This law is substantially the same as Art . 7 , p 58 .

Rule No . 80— " Members of provincial or district grand locige "—is better worded than Art 2 , p 52 , and No . 81 is verbally the same with Art . 1 , p 45 , but with the addition of " and until such installation he shall not be qualified to

perform any of the functions of his office . " This is a wise provision , as it necessitates the early installation of the new Prov . or Dist . G . Master in order that the Prov . or Dist . G . Locige may bo constituted .

Rule No . 82 is the closing sentence of the foot note at p 45 , ancl enacts that a Prov . or Dist . G . Master , to be entitled to past rank , must have served five years from the

date of his installation . This makes it impossible for brethren to become entitled to a seat in G . Lodge who have played only a trifling part in the direction of their Provinces or Districts .

Rule No . 83 has a decided advantage over Art . 2 , p 45 , which merely says , " He "—the Prov . or Dist . G . Master — " is impowered to appoint for his province a deputy , two wardens , two deacons , and other grand officers ( except the treasurer , who is to be elected ) , and also provincial

stewards not exceeding six in number . " The proposed rule gives a list of the Prov . or Diat . Grand Officers he may appoint , and where more than one of each rank , the number of each to he so appointed . It is also added , " nor

can he confer on any brother the rank of a past provincial or district grand officer . " Rule No . 84 provides that in Provinces or Districts where there are more than forty Lodges , there shall be two additional Prov . or Dist . Grand Deacons and a Prov . or Dist . Dep . ^ G . Director of

Cere-. Rule No . 85 corresponds in all essential particulars with Art . 6 , p 47 , and Nos . 86 and 87 with Art . 4 , p 46 , but an important function , as will be seen , is altogether omitted here . The two read thus :

REVISED EDITION . " 86 . He "—tho provincial or district grand master — " shall hear and determine all subjects of masonic complaint or irregularity , respecting lodges or individual masons , within his

province or district , and may proceed to admonition , fine , or suspension . A miunte of such proceedings , stating the offence and the law applicable to it , together with the decision , is to be transmitted to the grand master . "

" 87 . The provincial grand master has no power to erase a lodge or expel a mason ; when , therefore , the case is of so flagrant a nature as , in his judgment to require the erasure of a

EXISTING EDITION . 4 . ( 46 ) . " He shall hear ancl de . termine all subjects of masonio complaint orirregularity , respecting lodges or individual masons , within his district , and may proceed to admonition , fine , or

suspension , according to the general laws of the craft . A minute of such proceedings , stating the offence and the law applicable to it , together with the decision , is to be transmitted to the grand master . "

4 . ( 46 ) . . . . " When the case is of so flagrant a nature as , in the judgment of the provincial grand master , to require the erasure of a lodge , or the expulsion of a brother , he shall make