The Constitution Of Grand Lodges Of The United Kingdom.

THE CONSTITUTION OF GRAND LODGES OF THE UNITED KINGDOM .

THE Grand Lodges of England , Scotland and Ireland were formed in 1717 , 1736 and 1729 respectively , and have generally held intimate and friendly intercourse with each other . So much so has this been the case that more than oue Grand Master has in turn held sway over two or three jurisdictions , thus Lord Kingston , who was Grand Master in England in 1728 ,

was Grand Master of Ireland in 1730 ; Earl Kintore was Grand Master of Scotland in 1728 , and in England in 1740 ; James , Earl of Morton , held the same offices in 1739 and 1741 respectively , and several other instances might be quoted . But ,

notwithstanding these facts , the laws or " Constitutions" of the three Grand Lodges differ in many important respects with regard to the power of the Grand Master , the titles and precedence of fche Grand Officers , and other matters , and I shall now proceed to quote the principal points of difference .

First , as to the composition of the body known as the Grand Lodge . That of England consists of the Grand Master , all present and Past Grand Officers , the Grand Stewards of the year , and all actual Masters and Wardens of the Subordinate Lodges , wifch all Pasfc Masters who are continuously subscribers to a regular Lodge under its jurisdiction .

Tbe Grand Lodge of Scotland consists of the Grand Master , Past Grand Master , Depute ancl Substitute Grand Masters , Provincial Grand Masters , Actual and Proxy Colonial and Foreign Grand Masters , the Grand Wardens , Grand Secretary , Grand

Cashier , and the Actual or Proxy Masters and Wardens of Daughter Lodges . Thus the Past Grand Officers , as well as the Actual Grand Office-bearers , not specially named , are not " members of Grand Lodge , " as such , unless otherwise qualified , which is very curious .

The Grand Lodge of Ireland consists of the Grand Master , alhpresent and Past Grand Officers , Provincial Grand Officers , the * Masters and Wardens of each Subordinate Lodge , and all registered Past Masters . Here it will be noticed that a point of 1

differencefrom the other two Grand Lodges is that Provincial Grand Officers are members of Grand Lodge , which seems wise , in * some degrees at least , and worthy of imitation in the sister jurisdictions .

Then as to the Degrees of Masonry " recognised officially . ' The English body recognises the three Craft Degrees , and the Rdyal Arch only ( including the installation ceremonies ); that of Scotland-the three Craffc Degrees , and fche Mark , with the " ceremony of Installed Master ; " while that of Ireland

recognises the Craft , Arch ( including the Mark and Excellent Degrees ) , High Knight Templar , Prince Mason , and other Degrees worked , fco-. the 33 rd , by the Supreme Council of the A . and A . S . Rite . Here again the Irish rule seems to be far more reasonable and consistent than those of England and Scotland , for surely when ,

as is customary , the Rulers of the " High Degrees " are those who hold , or have held , high office in Grancl Lodge , it is absurd for them to deny recognition in one capacity to ceremonies they value and uphold'in another , and the effect in Ireland of this mutual support and respect is , that none of the additional

ceremonies which so confuse the Masonic systems , and cause unnecessary multiplication of degrees in the other jurisdictions , are allowed , but are all declared by Grand Lodge to be unlawful . Thus a well ordered sequence pervades the series of degrees , and no dissensions with regard to the numberless so-called " side degrees " arise .

. Next , as to the powers of the Grand Master . In England he is practically absolute , and there seems to be no reason to ever regret the fact , such has always been the tact and discretion fraternally displayed by him . He appoints all the Grand Officers except the Treasurer , grants Warrants for new Lodges ,

and is annually re-elected as long as he wishes to hold the office . , In Scotland and Ireland the Grand Master presides in Grand Lodge , and appoints his Depute and Substitute , or Deputy Grand

Master , as the case may be , but he does not appoint any other Grand Officers or grant Warrants , these powers being vested in members of Grand Lodge collectively , but , as in England , he is virtually re-elected until he wishes to resign .

The number and title of the Grand Officers vary considerably . England has thirty Grand Offices , Scotland twenty-two , and Ireland only sixteen . The officers peculiar to England are the Grand and Deputy Grand Registrars , Presidents of the

Boards of "General Purposes" and " Benevolence , " Grand Secretary for German Correspondence , Deputy and Assistant Grand Directors of Ceremonies , Grancl Standard Bearers , and Grand and Assistant Grand Pursuivants .

Peculiar to Scotland are the Substitute Grand Master , Grand Architect , Grand Jeweller , Grand Bible Bearer , Grand Bard , Grand Director of Music , and Grand Marshal . Peculiar to Ireland ( as Constitutional Grand Officers ) are " The Most Worshipful the Patron , " aud the Grand Steward , ranking before the Grand Sword Bearer .

The Constitution Of Grand Lodges Of The United Kingdom.

In England and Ireland Past Grand Masters are "Most Worshipful , " but in Scotland they are " Right Worshipful , " so with the Grand Chaplains who in Ireland are " Right Worshi pful , " and in England and Scotland " Very Worshipful . " In

England the Grand Chaplains rank next to Grand Wardens , but in Scotland and Ireland they rank after the Grand Secretary and Treasurer . The Grand Secretary himself is . in Scotland , above the Grand Cashier ( or Treasurer ) , but in the other two Jurisdictions the Grand Treasurer is the senior officer .

In England and Scotland , Past Grand Officers take precedence next after tho actual holders of the same rank , but in Ireland ( save in the case of Past Grand Masters and Past Deputy Grand Masters ) all the actual Grand Officers rank before Past Grand Officers , thus the Grand Inner Guard takes precedence of a Past Senior Grand Warden .

As to titles ., in England the Grand Officers , from the Deputy G . M . to the Grand Wardens , are " Right Worshipful ; " from the Grand Chaplains to the Grand Secretary , " Very Worshipful ;"

and the remainder , " Worshipful . " In Scotland those from the Past Grand Master to the G . Cashier are " Right Worshipful ; " from G . Chaplain to Grand Bible Bearer , " Very Worshipful ; " and all others , " Worshipful . "

In Ireland from the Deputy Grand Master to the Grand Chaplain are " Ri » ht Worshipful , " and all others " Worshipful ; " the prefix " Very" being used only in Provincial Grand Lodges , and in this case Ireland is unique , as in England and Scotland Provincial Grand Officers , even in the case of the Deputy

Provincial Grand Master , are entitled to no prefix as such , but in Ireland the Provincial and Deputy Provincial Grand Masters are "Right Worshipful ; " the Provincial Grand Wardens , Treasurer and Secretary ; " Very Worshipful ; " and all others , " Worshipful . "

In England and Ireland the Master of a Lodge is " Worshipful , " but in Scotland he is " Right Worshipful , " and his Wardens " Worshipful . "

In Scotland a candidate for initiation must be at least 21 years of age , except in the case of a Lewis , when he may be admitted at 18 ; but in England and Ireland he must be 21 yeara of age , except by dispensation of the Grand Master .

In England the minimum fee for Initiation is five guineas ; in Scotland , two guineas ; and in Ireland , twenty pounds in the Dublin Masonic District , and two pounds five shillings in country Lodges .

The Fees for a Lodge Charter are—In England , fifteen guineas in the London District , and ten guineas in the Provinces ; in Scotland , ten guineas ; and in Ireland , twenty pounds in the Dublin District , and ten pounds in the country .

In England and Ireland the Master of a Lodge must have previously served the office of Warden in a regular Lodge under the same Constitution , but in Scotland any Master Mason may at once be installed in the chair of King Solomon by the vote of his Brethren , without having previously held any other office .

Again , in England and Ireland the Master may not hold office for more than two years consecutively , but in Scotland he may rule for an unlimited time . Each Lodge in England may fix its own day for tbe Installation of the Master and Officers by its bye-laws , the Master and Treasurer being elected previously ; in

Scotland all are " recommended " to have a fixed day as near as possible to St . John the Evangelist ' s Day ( 27 th December ) for the election of office-bearers , when " the Lodge shall be opened in the third degree " ( which is peculiar to Scotland ) , but when the R . W . Master and Officers are installed , the Lodge is open in the firsfc degree .

In Ireland all Officers must be elected prior to 30 th November , and may not be installed until on or after St . John ' s Day ( 27 th December ) , and even then not until the Grand Secretary , or Provincial Grand Secretary , intimates that they are

approved of . This latter clause seems to be excellent , and insures the ability of Oflicers to do their work properly . There are other minor points of difference , but those before named are the principle ones .

As to the " Book of Constitutions " themselves , there have been a number of editions issued in each of the three countries , — " Scottish Freemason . "

An interesting ceremony is to take place at Liskeard on Tuesday , 21 st inst ., when the Earl of Mount-Edgcumbe D . G . M . England Prov . G . M . of Cornwall will lay the corner stone of the Liskeard Hospital , tlie noble gift of Bro . Passmore Edwards , who will also be present on the occasion . The Prov . G . L . will

be opened at the Temperance Hall at 1 p . m ., and the attendance of present and past Provincial Grand Officers will be much appreciated , as well as of the members generally , says the " Western Morning News . " There will be a general luncheon subsequently , tickes 2 s 6 d each .

Ar00402

BOOKBIKD 1 NG in all its branches . Price list on application . Morgan , Fleet Works , Bulwer Road , New Barnet ,