The Qualification For The Chair Of M.M.M.'S Lodges.

Masters from these Craft Lodges . But an ounce of fact is worth a ton of theory . Wo find that tho great majority of Mark members aro not from the rank of Installed Masters , but from those members whoso chance of ever becoming so is very remote . And there is no earthly reason why this restriction should bo retained . In the Arch it is no doubt a very wise precaution , but here we are

governed , in a certain sense , by tho Constitutions of tho Craft , for Arch and Craft , in this way , may bo considered as identical . As to the objection that wo cannot alter Constitutions without tho sanction of tho past generation who mado them—and who are now no moro—it is simply begsting tho question . Tho Craft has amended its own laws , and the Mark has amended its very ritual .

To say then that vre cannot change a law , in doing which we injure none of tho ancient landmarks , traditions , or discipline of tho Order , is what " no fellah can understand . " It is not a fundamental law —it is not a landmark—introduced possibly with a view of ultimately bringing about a fusion with Craft Masonry—the primary object of it has vanished . "Cut it down then , why enmbereth it

the ground F" why retain it to act injuriously upon private Lodges , by whom the Grand Lodge is " clothed and fed ? " I hope this matter will be considered by each private Mark Lodgo , and resolutions upon it forwarded to tho Board of General Purposes in ample time for them to frame their resolution aright , and so

secure its adoption . It will bo a blessing to tho Order , and make tho hearts of young Mark Masons leap for joy . Only , let them bear in mind that with them now rests the result . Resolutions iu its favour , and tho attendance of their W . M ., Wardens , and Overseers , at the next Grand Lodge , is essentially necessary if this great boon is to bo secured . Yours fraternally , 7 th December 1 S 78 . A P . M . IN CR . UT AND MARK .

A Constitutional Question.

A CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR S IR AND BROTHER , —I am not quite sure that I rightly understand the query of your correspondout " J . W . " Ho says the Loduc in question " beiug in tho second degree , was ' resumed' to the third degree , instead of being ' opened' in the usual form . "

Clearly , a Lodge cannot bo " resumed " —literally " taken back "to a u ' egreo in which it has not been previously " opened . " A Lodge must be opened iu the first degree , then , if necessary , iu the second Ue"icv ; a . then , on a like supposition , in the third degree . Then it must be ciosed down to tho second degree for the resumption of

business iu that degree , and then to tho first degree for u Ubo purpose . In the case- of a Lodge which , having been opened in tho third de"ree and resumed to the second , husstiil business to transact in the third , it is my humble opinion that if tho Loclgo has been closed down , it must bo reopened in the superior degree . But a Lodge which has

been rcularly opened up to tho third degree aud closed down , does not need to bo reopened in either of the inferior degrees . Bro . "J . W . " will find the case ho contemplates provided for at p 181 of Oliver ' s Masonic Jurisprudence ; where it is laid down as " tho result of common sense , " that tho W . M . " cannot legally open a Lodgo iu the second

degree without going through tho ceremony of tho first , nor in the third until he has passed through the other two ; and if a Lodgo open iu the third is to bo resumed in tho first , the two superior de"rees must be closed before the business of the preliminary degree can bo entered on , for it will not be necessary to reopen it . " Yours fraternally , "Q . "

Ancient Warrants.

ANCIENT WARRANTS .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —I have read in your Loudon Masonic contemporary a short notice of tho Cosmopolitan Masonic Calendar for 1879 , in which I find it stated that " the dates of the foundation of the Ancient Lodges have been given for the first time in any Ma-Sonic publication , thanks to Bro . W . J . Hughan . " I can fully enter

into the pardonable fueling of pride with which the editor of your contemporary draws attention to this new and important feature in the said Calendar . Such additional information is indeed valuable , but considering that Bro . John Constable P . M . 185 has been engaged for some time past in obtaining transcripts of , aud forwarding to yon for publication in your columns , the Warrants of Ancient Lodges ; aud ,

considering that Bro . Constable has accomplished four-fifths of his task ,. and but for his absence from England for six mouths , would , ere now , most probably havo completed it , it strikes me that Bro . Hughan has flagrantly violated tho traditional etiquette of journalism which f . rbids one man from infringing on the labours of another , and go diverting to himself the credit which properly belongs to

that other . I admire tho spirit with which the proprietor and editor of tho Cosmopolitan Ca / ct't / arlabonriu order to make it as nearl y perfect as possible , bnt I protest against Bro . Hughan appropriating to himself or allowing others to award him any credit for the labours of Bro . Constable . The latter has worked energetically , and , to judge fiom a letter of his which recently appeared in the FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE , is still encased in tho prosecution of his task . The

greater reason , therefore , why Bro . Hughan , who poses before the Masonic public as // c historian of tho Craft , should not meddle with the labours of of hois , whose fame as labourers in tho field of Masonic liieraruro is less firmly established . He has nlnady won his Spurs , and , if he has any sense , of chivalry in . him , v .-ill stand by and , if i . ceil be . ciifnur ' -iri'otlicis in I heir (! h : ¦( . ¦ - ! to win theirs . Nor are yen without j- ; :-r , :: r : u :: ! of cose-pV . iio . a ^ v . iust Uro . Uughan for furliisli 1 £ the info : in :. I i ; t ; i 1 . ov ^ icu . With a cotntesv iu even wtiv

Ancient Warrants.

worthy of your position in Masonic journalism , you arrested the publication of the Ancient Warrants daring Bro . Constable ' s absence from England , though had you thought only of yourself , you might , I presume , have obtained access to tho same sources of information as he had done , and with oven greater facility perhaps . I will merely

add to these remark that a former statement of Bro . Hughau ' s fully justifies my criticism , which is not mado in any unfriendly spirit , but on tho good old principle , pahnam qui meruit ferat . Iu tho letter you published from him on 12 th October last , in which he attributed

the entire credit of a certain discovery to Bro . Gould , he remarked " to whom also we beg to express our appreciation of the handsome manner in which ho has always credited to ' Ciosar tho things which are Caesar ' s , ' so unlike many writers , who take all from others and keep the credit to themselves . " Yours faithfully and fraternally , SCRUTATOR .

Things One Would Like To Know.

THINGS ONE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW .

To the Editor of THE FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —In your issue of tho 10 th ult . yon inserted a reply from Bro . AV . Smallpcico to my queries regarding the status and privileges of an honorary memeber of a Lodge , to the effect that he can neither take part in tho Lodge proceedings

—nor vote— nor hold office ; also that ho can only attend a banquet by invitation or on payment of tho usual Visitor ' s fee . Assuming Bro . Smallpeicc ' s ruling to bo correct , cui bono an honorary membership ? I havo always understood that a brother so complimented

wns , in right of his membership , though honorary , privileged to attend both Lodge and banquet , without invitation and without payment of any fco , in all casus when the banquet was paid for out of the Lodgo funds . I should bo glad to hear further from Bro . Smallpoice , or any other of your readers , on this head . Yours fraternally , FORTE .

Committee Meeting Of The Boys' School.

COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE BOYS' SCHOOL .

The monthly meeting of the General Committee of tho Royal Masonio Institution for Boys was held on Saturday last , in tho Board-room , Frenmasons' Hall . Bro . Capt . Wordsworth ( West Yorkshire ) presided , and the other brethren present were—Bros . Donald M . Dewar , Henry Muggeridge , Andrew Middlomass , R . B . Webster , W . F . C . Moutrio , G . J . Row , S . Rosenthal , the Rev . Richard Morris , J . G . Chancellor , H . Massey , G . J . Palmerand F . Binckes

, Sec . The minutes of the House Committee , which were read , informed the brethren of tho resignation of Bro . Peter Matthews , honorary surgeon-dentist to the Institution . The only business before the Committee was the consideration of the petitions of candidates for admission to tho School , and the granting of outfits to late pupils . Three of the former were placed on the list , and four of tho latter were granted , after which the Committee adjourned .

Committee Meeting Of The Benevolent Institution.

COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The Committee of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution met on Wednesday afternoon , at Freemasons' Hall . Bro . Col . Creaton occupied the chair , and the other brethren who attended wero—Bros . Tattershall , S . F . Rawson , W . Hilton , Erasmus Wilson , James Brett , Cottebrune , F . Adlard , Geo . Bolton , T . Cubitt , Edgar Bowyer , John Wordsworth , C . F . Hogand , L . Stean , N . G . PhilipsJ . M . P . Montagu

, , aud James Terry Sec . The presentation to the Institution , by Bro . C . J . Perceval , of 19 vols , of Household 1 Yards , and also a large parcel of other books , was imported . A vote of thanks for the gift was afterwards passed to Bro . Perceval . Two annuitants were reported to have died ; and a considerable number of new petitions were admitted .

Ihe Committee assented to Bro . Terry ' s request for the use of tho Hall at the Institution at Croydon for the annual Christmas Entertaiument on 1 st January , Bro . J . G . Stevens moving , and Bro . Cubitt seconding , a donation of £ 20 towards expenses of tho treat . The brefchr ; n unanimously agreed to it , and after passing a vote of thanks to tho Chairman , separated .

Afc a recent mooting of tbe Vestrymen of the parish of St . Anne , Westminster , it wns proposed by Bro . Samuel Webb , seconded by Bro . J . E . Shand : — ' ¦ This Vestry is of opinion that tho present practice of allowing Crown Servants to conduct large businesses , amounting to some mil .

l ; ous per annum , with little or no profit , under the title of Civil Service Storcs ( lhey not having the usual trade liabilities or expenses ) , involves an unwholesome principle , aud ia extremely unjust to the regular trading aud most heavily taxed class of the community , and

will ultimately prove detrimental to tho State , if not embarrassing to tho Public * Exchequer . Such pi act ice is inconsistent with their appointment as Public Servants , and demands an effectual remedy , either in longer hours with full employment , or a- large reduction in salaries , and i : o pensions nrs . tperannnations . !"