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Article THE REVISED BOOK OF CONSTITUTIONS. Page 1 of 1 Article THE REVISED BOOK OF CONSTITUTIONS. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Revised Book Of Constitutions.
THE REVISED BOOK OF CONSTITUTIONS .
HHHERE is , in the main , good reason to be satisfied with - *• the work done by the Commit tec entrusted with the task of revising the Book of Constitutions . That such a task must inevitably have been undertaken sooner or later must be obvious to any ono who has been a member of the
Craft for even tho period of a few years . Changes , more or less material , are constantly being- made , as it is right and necessary they should be made ; and even thoso who are most zealous in noting such changes may occasionally let ono or more escape observation . From timo to time ,
therefore , a fresh edition of these laws becomes indispensable , and hence the version now before the brethren for their consideration , its immediate predecessor having been issued in 1873 . And as , not only of our own motion , but likewise at the request of many of our readers , we
have been at tho pains of comparing tho now book with the old , with a view to estimating the value of the changes contemplated , it seems only right that we should place our opinions on record , quite as much for tho satisfaction of those who have been in communication with us
as for our own . Somo valuable suggestions have been made to us ;—one brother has evidently studied the work most attentively , the comments he offers on tho Book as revised occupying several score pages of closely written manuscript . These , or such of these remarks as may
occur to us to be worth reproducing will be submitted to our readers in the articles wo purpose publishing on the subject . We must not , of course , be held to endorse them because they appear in these pages . Oar object is to
invite criticism , so that tho revised laws may be as clear and comprehensive as possible , and it is now , while the work of the Committee is before the public , that such friendly suggestions as may occur to brethren should be placed on record and their value determined .
The work has been most thoroughly carried out , and is not simply confined to Revision , but involves a complete and most satisfactory re-arrangement of the Laws . Thus the new Book consists of three principal groups or subdivisions , headed respectively " Grand Lodge , " " Provincial
and District Grand Lodges , " and " Private Lodges , " each group containing all the laws and regulations relating to its particular subject . Another feature which is especially noteworthy is , that the old numbering has been clone away with , and a new system of consecutive numeration from the
beginning to the end of the book substituted . Again , each rule has a marginal note explanatory of its purport , so that the reader has in the body of tlie work what is equivalent to an index , necessarily more complete in its way than the ordinary kind of index . At the same time , we
would suggest that there should be the samo kind of index at tho end of the volume , so that when reference to some particular law becomes necessary , it may be found with the least possible difficulty . The marginal notes are an excellent addition , but without an index one
would bo under the necessity of wading through the whole for sub-division in order to discover the particular subject of reference . The laws themselves have been most carefully examined and in many instances re-written entirely , or in great measure , and , further , no law is
entered more than once . Thus the Committee have succeeded in placing before the Craft a Book of Constitutions , which is distinguished by its accuracy and
consecutive enumeration , as well as by the perspicuity of its phraseology and its compactness . It would be difficult , indeed , to bestow greater praise on the brethren who have had charge of this important work .
This much by way of preface . Next week we shall set ourselves to study and compare the laws as revised with the last edition as issued in 1873 .
The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Lancashire was held at Accrington on Thursday . The Earl of Lathom , Immediate Past G . Master , and Grand Master of the Province , presided , and the attendance was more numerous than usual . His
Lordship , who has already held the P . G . Mastership of this influential county for two consecutive periods of three years , wns re-elected for a further term of the same duration , the re-election being received with every evidence of satisfaction on tbo part of those present . The P . G . Officers
The Revised Book Of Constitutions.
for the year having been appointed and invested , and the other business of the meeting disposed of , Prov . G . Lod <» e was closed , and the brethren returned to banquet , under
the presidency of their popular chief . It is satisfactory to note that of the twenty-four Lodge ? on the roll of this Province , no less than twenty-three were represented .
Wc cannot let slip the opportunity of congratulating Bro . Festa on the success which marked his installation last week as W . Master of the Montague Guest Lodge No . 1900 . Bro . Festa , by birth , is a foreigner , and
therefore we cannot be charged with going out of our way to pay him a compliment which it would bo impossible for us to pay other W . Masters . We feel sure , however , that under the circumstances , none among our readers will
grudge Bro . Festa these present remarks . He has worked hard and successfully in tho offices he has filed . This year he served as Steward at all three Festivals , his list at that of the R . M . B . I . beinj ? £ 106 , and that of the R . M . I . B .
m round figures , £ 180 . To the Girls' School ho contribnted the amount of a Life Governorship , and has already promised his services as Steward at its Festival next , year . Ho has also founded a prize for shorthand
writing , of two guineas , to be given annually for three years . On tho day of his installation he entertained the " Old Folks " at Croydon , and ho has also been instru .
mental iu placing a former pupil of the Girls' School in an excellent house of business without tho premium of fift y guineas usually demanded .
The Grand Masonic Concert in aid of the funds of the local Cottage Hospital , held at the Corn Exchange , Wallingford , on Wednesday , tho 18 th instant , under the auspices of the St , Hilda Lodge , No . 1887 , passed off with the most unequivocal success . There was a very numerous
attendance , and what with the Craft insignia of the members , and the tasteful dresses of the ladies , the scene was a very brilliant one . This is not surprising , having regard to the fact that the Concert enjoyed the patronage of H . R . H . the Duke of Albany Prov . G . M . Oxfordshire ,
R . W . Bro . Sir D . Gooch , Bart ., M . P ., Prov . G . M . of Berks and Bucks , Bros . Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg Deputy Provincial Grand Master Berks and Bucks , and Reginald Bird , M . A ., Deputy Provincial Grand Master Oxon , the Mayor and Corporation of Wallingford , the County and
Borough Magistrates , and P . Ralh , Esq ., M . P . An almost equally effective explanation of this success will be found in the admirable entertainment provided for the occasion . The services of Miss Jeannio Rosse of the Alexandra , Crystal Palace , and Promenade Concerts , Miss Grace
Miller , a pupil of Miss Rosse , and Bro . John F . Probert of the same Concerts , proving most valuable , the other contributors to the Concert being Bros . A . Rowley Past Provincial Grand Organist , and W . Knowles , both of New College , and Bro . J . H . Robson of Magdalen College ,
Oxford , whose efforts were greatly appreciated by the audience . Bro . H . Plumridge , Mus . Baa , P . P . G . O . was a most serviceable accompanyist . We offer our congratulations to the brethren of the St . Hilda Lodge , and should imagine the Cottage Hospital will largely benefit by their kindness .
We have to acknowledge receipt of copy of a very handsome coloured menu card of the Mary Commandery , No . 30 , of the Knights Templar of Philadelphia , published in memory of the " Bi-Centennial of the landing of William Penn , " on the 2 fith October 1682 . The front is
illustrated with a neat lithograph of the Masonic Temple , Philadelphia , and contains the names of the principal Officers of the Commandery , with a list of the fratres who have held the office of B . C . On the back is an elegant banner of arms of Mary Commandery , flanked right and left by those of Beanseant , No . 1 , of Baltimore , and Morton Commandery of New York .
It is with deep regret we announce the departure from this life of Brother Jonathan L . Jones , Worship fnl Master Royal Savoy Lodge , No . 1744 , which melancholy even t took place on Thursday , 12 th instant , after a few weeks
illness from erysipelas . The funeral took place at Hens . Green Cemetery , on Tuesday , the 17 th instant , wjiej several members of the Order attended to pay a last tnbu of respect to a worthy brother .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Revised Book Of Constitutions.
THE REVISED BOOK OF CONSTITUTIONS .
HHHERE is , in the main , good reason to be satisfied with - *• the work done by the Commit tec entrusted with the task of revising the Book of Constitutions . That such a task must inevitably have been undertaken sooner or later must be obvious to any ono who has been a member of the
Craft for even tho period of a few years . Changes , more or less material , are constantly being- made , as it is right and necessary they should be made ; and even thoso who are most zealous in noting such changes may occasionally let ono or more escape observation . From timo to time ,
therefore , a fresh edition of these laws becomes indispensable , and hence the version now before the brethren for their consideration , its immediate predecessor having been issued in 1873 . And as , not only of our own motion , but likewise at the request of many of our readers , we
have been at tho pains of comparing tho now book with the old , with a view to estimating the value of the changes contemplated , it seems only right that we should place our opinions on record , quite as much for tho satisfaction of those who have been in communication with us
as for our own . Somo valuable suggestions have been made to us ;—one brother has evidently studied the work most attentively , the comments he offers on tho Book as revised occupying several score pages of closely written manuscript . These , or such of these remarks as may
occur to us to be worth reproducing will be submitted to our readers in the articles wo purpose publishing on the subject . We must not , of course , be held to endorse them because they appear in these pages . Oar object is to
invite criticism , so that tho revised laws may be as clear and comprehensive as possible , and it is now , while the work of the Committee is before the public , that such friendly suggestions as may occur to brethren should be placed on record and their value determined .
The work has been most thoroughly carried out , and is not simply confined to Revision , but involves a complete and most satisfactory re-arrangement of the Laws . Thus the new Book consists of three principal groups or subdivisions , headed respectively " Grand Lodge , " " Provincial
and District Grand Lodges , " and " Private Lodges , " each group containing all the laws and regulations relating to its particular subject . Another feature which is especially noteworthy is , that the old numbering has been clone away with , and a new system of consecutive numeration from the
beginning to the end of the book substituted . Again , each rule has a marginal note explanatory of its purport , so that the reader has in the body of tlie work what is equivalent to an index , necessarily more complete in its way than the ordinary kind of index . At the same time , we
would suggest that there should be the samo kind of index at tho end of the volume , so that when reference to some particular law becomes necessary , it may be found with the least possible difficulty . The marginal notes are an excellent addition , but without an index one
would bo under the necessity of wading through the whole for sub-division in order to discover the particular subject of reference . The laws themselves have been most carefully examined and in many instances re-written entirely , or in great measure , and , further , no law is
entered more than once . Thus the Committee have succeeded in placing before the Craft a Book of Constitutions , which is distinguished by its accuracy and
consecutive enumeration , as well as by the perspicuity of its phraseology and its compactness . It would be difficult , indeed , to bestow greater praise on the brethren who have had charge of this important work .
This much by way of preface . Next week we shall set ourselves to study and compare the laws as revised with the last edition as issued in 1873 .
The annual meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Lancashire was held at Accrington on Thursday . The Earl of Lathom , Immediate Past G . Master , and Grand Master of the Province , presided , and the attendance was more numerous than usual . His
Lordship , who has already held the P . G . Mastership of this influential county for two consecutive periods of three years , wns re-elected for a further term of the same duration , the re-election being received with every evidence of satisfaction on tbo part of those present . The P . G . Officers
The Revised Book Of Constitutions.
for the year having been appointed and invested , and the other business of the meeting disposed of , Prov . G . Lod <» e was closed , and the brethren returned to banquet , under
the presidency of their popular chief . It is satisfactory to note that of the twenty-four Lodge ? on the roll of this Province , no less than twenty-three were represented .
Wc cannot let slip the opportunity of congratulating Bro . Festa on the success which marked his installation last week as W . Master of the Montague Guest Lodge No . 1900 . Bro . Festa , by birth , is a foreigner , and
therefore we cannot be charged with going out of our way to pay him a compliment which it would bo impossible for us to pay other W . Masters . We feel sure , however , that under the circumstances , none among our readers will
grudge Bro . Festa these present remarks . He has worked hard and successfully in tho offices he has filed . This year he served as Steward at all three Festivals , his list at that of the R . M . B . I . beinj ? £ 106 , and that of the R . M . I . B .
m round figures , £ 180 . To the Girls' School ho contribnted the amount of a Life Governorship , and has already promised his services as Steward at its Festival next , year . Ho has also founded a prize for shorthand
writing , of two guineas , to be given annually for three years . On tho day of his installation he entertained the " Old Folks " at Croydon , and ho has also been instru .
mental iu placing a former pupil of the Girls' School in an excellent house of business without tho premium of fift y guineas usually demanded .
The Grand Masonic Concert in aid of the funds of the local Cottage Hospital , held at the Corn Exchange , Wallingford , on Wednesday , tho 18 th instant , under the auspices of the St , Hilda Lodge , No . 1887 , passed off with the most unequivocal success . There was a very numerous
attendance , and what with the Craft insignia of the members , and the tasteful dresses of the ladies , the scene was a very brilliant one . This is not surprising , having regard to the fact that the Concert enjoyed the patronage of H . R . H . the Duke of Albany Prov . G . M . Oxfordshire ,
R . W . Bro . Sir D . Gooch , Bart ., M . P ., Prov . G . M . of Berks and Bucks , Bros . Rev . J . Studholme Brownrigg Deputy Provincial Grand Master Berks and Bucks , and Reginald Bird , M . A ., Deputy Provincial Grand Master Oxon , the Mayor and Corporation of Wallingford , the County and
Borough Magistrates , and P . Ralh , Esq ., M . P . An almost equally effective explanation of this success will be found in the admirable entertainment provided for the occasion . The services of Miss Jeannio Rosse of the Alexandra , Crystal Palace , and Promenade Concerts , Miss Grace
Miller , a pupil of Miss Rosse , and Bro . John F . Probert of the same Concerts , proving most valuable , the other contributors to the Concert being Bros . A . Rowley Past Provincial Grand Organist , and W . Knowles , both of New College , and Bro . J . H . Robson of Magdalen College ,
Oxford , whose efforts were greatly appreciated by the audience . Bro . H . Plumridge , Mus . Baa , P . P . G . O . was a most serviceable accompanyist . We offer our congratulations to the brethren of the St . Hilda Lodge , and should imagine the Cottage Hospital will largely benefit by their kindness .
We have to acknowledge receipt of copy of a very handsome coloured menu card of the Mary Commandery , No . 30 , of the Knights Templar of Philadelphia , published in memory of the " Bi-Centennial of the landing of William Penn , " on the 2 fith October 1682 . The front is
illustrated with a neat lithograph of the Masonic Temple , Philadelphia , and contains the names of the principal Officers of the Commandery , with a list of the fratres who have held the office of B . C . On the back is an elegant banner of arms of Mary Commandery , flanked right and left by those of Beanseant , No . 1 , of Baltimore , and Morton Commandery of New York .
It is with deep regret we announce the departure from this life of Brother Jonathan L . Jones , Worship fnl Master Royal Savoy Lodge , No . 1744 , which melancholy even t took place on Thursday , 12 th instant , after a few weeks
illness from erysipelas . The funeral took place at Hens . Green Cemetery , on Tuesday , the 17 th instant , wjiej several members of the Order attended to pay a last tnbu of respect to a worthy brother .