The Rights Of Worshipful Masters.

ours . Oliver , indeed , has noted this in his Masonic Jurisprudence , but by mere accident the question was lately brought under onr notice in turning over the pages of an old American Masonic newspaper , the American Freemason , Louisville and New York , bearing date 1 st November 1855 .

Herein a writer had culled , from the pages of our Freemasons' Quarterly Review , the opinions of that journal on different points of Masonic Law . He then contrasts , where desirable , the practice adopted in America . Among the points noted , occurs a case in which our English editor had

evidently been consulted as to some of the powers possessed by the Master of a Lodge , for he is quoted as saying —we havo reproduced the words as given in the American journal— " No Mason below the rank of an Installed Master can initiate , pass , or raise . The pretence of a

Warden ' s power to initiate in front of the pedestal , is a breach of Masonic law as regards the party so offending ; and , in our opinion , any Past Masters present are equally guilty , and , the act not being legal , confers no privilege on those who are the objects of the fault . " ( 1837 p . 554 ; also ,

1841 p . 128 ) . In commenting on this , the American Freemason says , " that this is contrary to the Ancient Rulewe refer , of course , to Lodges under the jurisdiction of Grand Lodges in the United States , for with the most of these we are well acquainted "—will be immediately remarked , if the formulas used in the Installation Services are borne in mind .

They all attribute to a Warden all the powers of the Master when presiding in his absence . " The writer then goes on to wonder how the fact of a brother being a P . M . will enable him to fulfil any one of these ceremonies better . He also objects to the spirit of our law , by which he , on whom

tbe degree is thus conferred , is in no wise benefited . Oliver ' s statement agrees with this in all essential particulars , though he mentions a more ancient rule in America , which provided that , in such cases , the Master ' s authority ought to revert to the last Past Master who is present , and also that

the Wardens , as a matter of courtesy , will generally invite a Past Master to take the chair , on account of his experience and skill in conducting the business of a Lodge . However ,

we have said enough as to the contrast between the law in the two countries , for this is of less importance than the interpretation we put upon our own law . What this latter is we have already shown above .

Grand Lodge Virginia.

GRAND LODGE VIRGINIA .

WE acknowledge with hearty thanks the receipt of Proceedings at the Annual Communication of this Grand Body held in the City of Richmond , on the 11 th , 12 th , and 13 th December 1876 . Bro . Taliaferro , the Grand Master , presided , and was supported by Bro . Richard

Parker , Deputy Grand Master , Bros . Beverley R . Wellford jun . aud Peyton S . Coles , S . and J . Grand Wardens respectively , other of the Grand Officers , the

representatives of most of the Lodges in the jurisdiction , certain Past Grand Masters , District D . G . Masters , and others , together with the representatives of the Grand Lodges of Nebraska , Ireland , Dacotah and Canada . The Grand

Master delivered the customary address , in which he touched , in brief , but appropriate terms , on all the leading incidents of the past year . His allusion to the loss sustained by the Grand Lodge through the deaths of the late Grand Secretary Dove , Grand Treasurer Thomas W . Dudlev . and

Grand Lecturer James R . Dowell , was couched in language befitting the occasion . We have already included in our columns a short sketch of the late estimable Bro . Dove , who , at the time of his death , was the oldest Grand Sec . in the world , having filled the ohice uninterruptedly from

the year 1835 . The other two Grand Officers were younger than Bro . Dove , both as men and Masons ; Bro . Dudley having attained the age of sixty-eight only , and havinoserved the office of G . Treasurer for a quarter of a century , while Bro . Dowell , the Grand Lecturer , was younger still ,

being _ only in his fifty-fifth year , and having discharged his very important functions for only a few years . It rarely happens that a Grand Lodge sustains such serious losses within the brief period of a few months . WB avmnniJii ' sfi

deeply with our Virginian brethren in their present sorrow . The Grand Master then dwelt on the antiquity of Freemasonry , its inestimable value as an Instifcu ion , and the need there is that all who profess it should most reli-

Grand Lodge Virginia.

giously observe the precepts set down for their guidance . Among other matters passed under review , Bro . Taliaferro announced that he had withheld approval , for reasons which commend themselves to us , as to him , to the holding of " Lodges of Sorrow . " Ho likewise announced the

interchange of representatives with the Grand Lodges of New York , Louisiana , and Nevada , that a communication relative to the new Grand Lodge of Cuba would be submitted for the consideration of the brethren , and that he proposed to reject the petition of the so called Grand Lodge of Ontario ,

for recognition and the interchange of representatives . Ho congratulated those present on the steady progress of the Craft . He urged on them the necessity of preparing historical sketches of their several Lodges , as material for a general history of the Fraternit y in Virginia , and also to

use all speed in preparing a new edition of the Virginia Text-book , the last edition , compiled by the late Bro . Dove , having been exhausted more than twelve months since . Having invoked their sympathy and support on behalf of the " Masonic Widows' and Orphans' Home , " which , we

regret to hear , is not in so flourishing a condition as it should be , and having enumerated the various decisions he had felt called upon to make daring the year , on questions submitted for his judgment , the Grand Master brought his remarks to a conclusion , and , as usual , the address was

referred to a Committee for their report . The standing Committee having been appointed , and other business transacted , the Grand Lodge was closed till the following morning , when the Grand Working Committee " exemplified the work of the three degrees by questions and answers . "

In the evening Grand Lodge again met under the Presidency of the Grand Master , when the election of Grand Officers was proceeded with , the following being chosen to fill tho principal offices , namely : Bros . W . Parker as G . Master , B . R . Wellford jun . as Dep . G . M ., Peyton

Coles and Reuben M . Page Senior and Junior Grand Wardens respectively , P . M . Marshall G . Treasurer , and Wm . B . Isaacs G . Secretary . Those who were present having been introduced and installed , the Grand Master appointed Bro . James Evans as Grand Lecturer . A

resolution having been adopted , authorising the Committee on Finance and Investment to make arrangements with the trustees of the Masonic Temple Associatiou for the occupancy of the room in which they were then assembled , at the " annual and emergent meetings " of Grand Lodge , a

brief adjournment took place ; after which the Committee on Dispensations and Charters submitted its report , which was adopted , and Grand Lodge closed . Afc the morning session on the third day , the Grand Lecturer , assisted by members of the Grand Working Committee ,

exemplified the third degree of Masonry . In the evening , a series of very elaborate reports was submitted , among them that of the Committee on the proceedings of Grand Officers , those of the District Deputy Grand Masters on the

condition of the Craft in their several districts , and also that on Masonic Jurisprudence , in which sundry of Past Grand Master Taliaferro ' s judgments were not endorsed . The financial Report showed a balance as yet undetermined , owing to the recent death of tho Grand Treasurer . The Committee on

the Grand Master ' s address having delivered their report , and the Deputy Grand Masters having been appointed for the several districts , Grand Lodge was closed till the second Monday in December 1877 , unless sooner convened by the Grand Master . Then follows a variety of important

statistical information . The sum paid to the Grand Treasurer by Lodges afc this Communication amounted to 4 , 260 dollars , the sum yet due from the same being 1 , 896 dols . 50 c . Then , in a most minute report , are given the rolls of the several Lodges in this jurisdiction , arranged , in the first

place , under their respective districts , in order to show the strength of each , and then tabularly and in alphabetical order , with other statistical matter , in order to show the strength of the Graft during the year , and its present status . As many Lodges appear to have made no return , the

figures represent imperfectl y the numerical strength of the Craft ; but the result , as regards those which have furnished the needful information , exhibits the following results : — There are in the forty-one districts into which the Jurisdiction is divided , 231 Lodges , with an aggregate membership

of 8 , 992 . The reinstatements during the year amounted to 23 , the suspensions to 207 , the expulsions to seven , and the deaths to 109 . In the Appendix is a list of the general regulations adopted by this Grand Lodge , and the affirmed decisions of successive Grand Masters from the year 1866 to this last yew both inclusive . An Index to tha