The Revised Book Of Constitutions.

The first sentence of the proposed rule is a decided improvement , in respect of language , on the existing part of the said Art . 10 , and is , historically , more accurate , as the dates of "their constitution , " as thoy concern the surviving lodges of the Union , are no criterion of their " precedency . "

We have said the two parts of No . 122 , as taken from Art . 10 , p 64 , and Art . 1 , p 44 , fit woll enough together , but , in our opinion , a still better arrangement might have been made . We would have joined Rule No . 123 as to the " Peculiar constitution of the grand stewards' lodge , " with

so much of No . 122 as determines the precedence of the said lodge , and made out of them one concise rule as to the " rank aud constitution of grand stewards' lodge . " Then we would have taken the first part of No .

122 , as to the general " precedence of lodges , " and combined with it No . 124 , as to the " Local precedence of provincial" ( or district ) " lodges . " Thus our Rule No . 122 would stand thus : —

" The grand stewards' lodge , which , being constituted as a master masons' lodge , has no power of making , passing , or raising masons , shall not have a number , but shall be registered in the books of the grand lodge , and placed in the printed list , at the head of all other lodges , and rank accordingly . "

What in such case would be Rule No . 123 , we propose should be made up of the first part of No . 122 and 124 , and would be to the following effect : — " The other Lodges shall take precedence in Grand Lodge in the order of their numbers as registered in the books of the Grand

Lodge . But every Provincial or District Lodge shall have a local as well as a general rank , " & c , & c Or , better still , perhaps as it would necessitate no further alteration of the Rule numbers , we might have No . 123 close with the words , "in the books of the Grand Lodge , " while No . 124 would

stand as proposed . As to this Eule No . 124 , it is substantially Art . 4 , p 73 , reproduced , but it is made applicable to Districts as well as Provinces . Thus , instead of beginning , " Every country lodge shall have a local , " & c , the proposed rule reads ,

" Every provincial or district lodge shall have , " & c , the words "or district" being inserted after " province " whenever the latter occurs . Be it added that , in order to be in harmony with the Rule , the marginal note should read , " Local precedence of provincial and district lodges . "

Nos . 125 and 126 are new rules , the former enacting that" A lodge cannot act without a warrant , " and the latter providing for the contingency of a warrant being lost or withheld . Thus , according to No . 125 , * ' No lodge , except while acting under dispensation in the colo

nips or foreign parts , can meet without a warrant of constitution from the grand master , which is to be specially intrusted to the master for the time being at his installation , who is responsible for its safe custody and shall produce it at every meeting of the lodge . This regulation

does not apply to the Lodge of Antiquity , No . 2 , and the Royal Somerset House and Inverness Lodge , No . 4 , which act under immemorial constitutions . " No . 126 is to the effect that " If a warrant be lost , or withheld by competent

masonic authority , the lodge must suspend its meetings until a warrant of confirmation has been applied for and granted by the grand master , or until the warrant so withheld be restored . " As to the former of these rules we

will merely ask why , if the printed list of Lodges in the Grand Lodge Calendar is intended to serve as our guide to their " dates of origin , " Lodges Nos . 3 , 5 , 7 , 9 , 11 , 13 , and 15 , which are described in the said list as " T . I . " Lodges , are not also excluded from the operation of this law ? Or ,

it this law is to be our guide , and it is authoritatively determined by it that the only Lodges " which act under immemorial constitutions " are Nos . 2 and 4 , then we shall gladly be informed why the Calendar Committee of the Board of General Purposes is bent on misleading- us into

the belief there are nine instead of two Time Immemorials . We should like to know , in other words , if Lodges " Nos . "« 5 > 7 , 9 , 11 , 13 , and 15 are to be considered as working under warrants of constitution from the Grand Master ; if the said warrants are " specially intrusted " to the

respective Masters of the Lodges ; andif is is intended the said Masters shall produce the said warrants at the several meetings of the said Lodges . Also , in the event of the warrants of any of these Lodges being lost , if they are to " suspend" their meetings until warrants of " confirmation " have been applied for and " granted b y the grand master . " This may seem a formidable array of questions to propound , but if the Book

The Revised Book Of Constitutions.

of Constitutions and the Graud Lodge Calendar , both of which are published under tlio authority of Grand Lodge itself , are distinctly at variance , it . will be necessary we should have the variance cleared up . As to No . 120 , we have nothing further to suggest than that tho marginal note should read " warrant lost or withhold . "

No . 127 , we are led to believe , is directed against the sale of a Lodge warrant ; and so it is , but in part only . It is also directed against the equally , or , perhaps even more , heinous offence of procuring a warrant " by any other means than through the regular channel of petition to the

grand master or district grand master . " Here again , there , fore , the marginal note , " Warrant not to bo sold , " is insufficient , and to rightly describe the purport of the law , there should be added the words " or irregularly procured . " Those who have had a hand in framing * the Revised

Regulations must or should know that it is quite possible for a precis to be too precise . This No . 127 is a case in point . It deals with two distinct offences , one being the sale of a Lodge warrant , the other the procuring such a warrant

through an improper channel . The marginal note takes cognisance only of the former . As to the Rule itself , it must be read with Art . 28 , p 70 , thero being , however , an additional clause which greatly strengthens the law now in force . This addition is printed in italics .

REVISED EDITION . " 127 . If the warrant of a lodge be sold , or procured by any other means than through the regular channel of petition to the grand master or district grand

master , such warrant shall be forfeited , aud the lodge erased , and all brethren concerned in such sale or irregularity shall be deemed to have committed a masonic offence . "

EXISTING EDITION . 28 ( p 70 ) . "If the warrant of a lodge be sold , or procured by any other means than through the regular channel of petition to the grand master , or district

grand master , snch warrant shall be forfeited , and the lodgo erased . "

The addition , as we have said , greatly strengthens the existing law . The forfeiture of the warrant , and the erasure of the Lodge , are a severe punishment , but they do not touch the wrongdoers . When the latter know they are "deemed to have committed a masonic offence , " they will

have before them the fear of individual Masonic punishment . No . 128 is absolute in the prescriptions it lays down , whereas the law it is intended to supersede ( Art . 11 , p 65 ) is optional . They compare thus : —

PROPOSED EDITION . " 128 . Every lodge must be distinguished by a name or title , as well as a number , and no lodge shall be permitted to make any alteration in its name or title

without the approval of the grand master , and in provinces or districts , also thafc of the provincial or district grand master . Any such alteration must be immediately communicated to the grand secretary for registration . "

EXISTING EDITION . 11 ( p 65 ) . " Any lodge which may not be distinguished by a name or title , being desirous of taking one , must , for that purpose , procure the approbation of

the grand master , or provincial grand master , and tho namo must be registered with the grand secretary . No lodge shall be permitted to alter its name without the like approbation . "

In No . 129 are enumerated the Officers of a Lodge , both those who are necessary to its proper organisation , and those whom it rests with the Master to appoint or not , at

his pleasure . There is also attached to the law as proposed the proviso that no brother shall hold at one time more than one office . The proposed and present rules read side by side thus : —

PROPOSED EDITION . " 129 . The regular officers of a lodge consist of the master and his two wardens , a treasurer , a secretary , two deacons , an inner guard , and a tyler . The master

may also appoint a chaplain , a director of the ceremonies , an organist , and stewards . No brother can hold more than one office in the lodge at one and the same time . "

EXISTING EDITION . 1 ( p 61 ) . " The officers of the lodge aro the master and his two wardens , with their assistants the two deacons , inner guard , and tyler . There must also bo a

treasurer and a secretary . A chaplain , a master of the ceremonies , and stewards maybe appointed . "

We are glad to see the word " director " substituted for " master " of the ceremonies . It will secure uniformity in our official titles , whereas under the existing Jaw a certain

confusion is constantly arising , and the term director of ceremonies , " which properly describes certain Officers in Grand Lodge , and Provincial or District Grand Lodges , is applied indifferently to the Officers in private lodges , who