Masonic Jurisprudence.

MASONIC JURISPRUDENCE .

[ COMMUNICATED . ] To resume' our discussion of the bye-laws of Provincial and District Grand Lodges . These , we stated , generally commenced with a tabulated list of ofiicers , followed by a description of their several duties .

Before noticing what the Constitutions say about other offices , we might refer to the exceptional circumstances which led- to the clause regarding the appointment of a Pro District Grand Master being inserted in Article 87 . The object was to allow H . R . H . the Duke of Connaught to

continue his official connection with the District Grand Lodge of Bombay . His R . oyal Highness was some six or se \ en years ago Commander-in-chief of the Bombay forces and District Grand Master of Bombay . Shortly after he left India Lord Sandhurst went out to be Governor of that Presidency , and being a good

and true Mason , it was very naturally thought desirable that he should become the ruler of the Ciaft , and at the same time brethren were anxious not to lose the lustre conferred on them

by his Royal Highness ' s official connection . Hence the special legislation which permits the appointment of a Pro District Grand Master in cases where the D . G . M . is a Prince of the blood royal .

It was suggested at the time that such appointment should be permitted in every case where the D . G . M . was the Governor of a colony . One wonders why this enabling clause only applies to foreign parts , and not to the case where a Prov . Grand Master may be of such exalted rank .

The Prov . Grand Wardens must bc Installed Masters , ancl during their year of office rank as Senior and Junior , but this distinction ceases afterwards , and both brethren become simply Past Wardens , and the term Past Senior Grand Warden has

no significance beyond indicating the jewel the brother should wear . Precedence among brethren of similar rank depends entirely upon seniority , a Past Junior Warden of 18 9 S taking precedence of a Past Senior of 18 99 . The other Provincial Officers referred to in thc Constitutions

are the Deacons , who must , according to Article 90 , be Wardens or Past Wardens . The Constitutions do not define the duties of Provincial Officers , but the bye-laws do , and sometimes at considerable length . A copy of the bye-laws of a large province which lies before the writer contains no less than 8 clauses defininsr the

functions of the respective officers . The worst of such verbosity is that the ollicers never go beyond the bye-laws , conceiving that they must be absolutely inclusive . The Provincial Grand Secretarv is probably the hardest

Worked officer , and m some provinces his duties require his full time , and he is often a salaried officer . It not infrequenllv happens that the management of the Provincial Benevolent Institutions devolves upon him . Needless to say that a profound

acquaintance with the Constitutions is expected from both the Registrar and the Secretary , as these officers are not only the official advisers of the Provincial Grand Master and his deputy , but they are unofficial advisers of half the Worshipful Masters in thc province .

However , the duties of Provincial Grand Officers are practically the same , mutatis mutandis , as those of the Grand Officers defined in Articles 27-43 . A Provincial Grand Lodge cannot be kept up without expense , and the bye-laws naturally deal with income and

expenditure . 'Ihe income is made up of quarterages , registration fees , and fees of honour . These are permanent and lixe'd sources of income , though the actual income itself may be variable . Other sources of income pre fees for dispensations and certificates of appointment , registration fees for new lodges and smaller fees for registering bye-laws .

The most important source of income is , of course , the quarterly fee for each member of every lodge—in this country usually sixpence —( Article 104 ) . This is forwarded at the end

of every quarter along wilh the quarterl y return ; this return possesses vital interest . It is referred loin Article 176 , and Provincial bye-laws generally print , as an appendix , a specimen schedule .

Article 176 prescribes that this return shall be similar to the annual return made to Grand Lodge described in Article 173 , but " oftener if required . " The usual plan is to transmit it quarterly , or half yearly in . some cases . It is an excellent plan

for each lodge to have a bound book of blank returns similar to those furnished by the Provincial Grand Secretary . These can be filled in in duplicate , and thcr value of such a series of volumes in the lodge records cannot be overestimated . Grand Lodge lias prescribed the maximum quarterly and

Masonic Jurisprudence.

registration fees ( Article 104 ) , and most Provincial Gra > A Lodges exact the maximum . Registration fees are of thr kinds—being live shillings for each person initiated or entererl for the first time in the register of the Grand Lodge of Enol - and a shilling for each joining member . The hi gher rat ; ' includes , of course , the provision of a Grand Lodge certificate ( Article 196 ) . """"

Fees of honour are a certain source of income . They ar generally only exacted on first appointment , and very often thei payment is assured by a bye-law which cancels the appointment unless the fee is paid within a certain interval , and sometimes

withholding the issue of the patent until such payment . It | s however , a question whether a fee of honour ought not to be regarded as a debt of honour ? The income from this source is often considerable . In Wesu' Yorkshire , for instance , it amounts to 3 6 guineas .

Ihe variable income includes fees for dispensations . N 0 w and then these are prohibitive , in order to signify official disapproval of frequent application . There are 12 Articles of the Constitutions which may be violated on procural of a dispensation . There is no need to

occupy space by reciting them in full . They are Articles 8 n " 5- 34 ) 135 . i 3 8 . JS 6 - 165 , 168 , 186 , 192 , 193 , and 206 . The List of these which refers to public appearance of Freemasons in

Masonic clothing may in course of time be removed from the list , the Most Worshipful Grand Master having recently expressed himself very strongly on the subject [ vide remarks in the Freemason 24 , ii , 00 ) .

It is noteworthy that even before the Grand Master ' s pronouncement on the subject those in lesser authority had been exercised in mind about it , and in a set of Provincial Grand Lodge bye-laws which lies before thc writer , authorised in 18 97 , a special clause provides that when application is made to

enable a public appearance in Masonic clothing , such application shall be supported by a resolution of the lodge , and no public announcement of the proposed appearance shall be made until

the dispensation has been actuall y granted . This last is a most wise provision , inasmuch as it is generally only the opportunity of making a display before the profane that prompts the application .

The remaining sources of income are too casual to need any reference .

The outgoings of Provincial Grand Lodge practically come under the head of maintenance of office , including rent , travelling expenses , and salaries . It should be noted that thc preamble of the Article ( 104 ) , which authorises a Provincial Grand Lodge to levy contributions of any kind , says :

"Great advantage having been experienced from the establishment of a local fund for charitable and other Masonic

purposes . . . . " ( The italics are the writer ' s ) . This is practically a hint lhat expenses are to be kept clown , and no unnecessary outlay incurred . Thus it will be generally found that Provincial Grand Lodgo , when it meets , accepts the read y and willing hospitality of the

several lodges in the Province which are aide to provide thc necessary accommodation . In this and other ways Provincial Grand Lodges are able to accumulate funds for Benevolent and Charitable purposes , and to keep going Institutions , which , for excellence ancl efficiency , vie with any in the country .

Having dealt with these necessary points , thc bye-laws usually go on to give excerpts from the Book of Constitutions which Provincial Grand Lodge considers ought most immediately to be brought under the notice ol its members . This is not altogether a superfluity . A series of instructions to Masters

ancl Secretaries of private lodges can be thus brought together in proper order of continuity , and tl e relationship of the private lodge to the Provincial Grand Lodge is thus set forth at a

glance . Great care , however , should be taken to make this section of the bye-laws complete , inasmuch as those for whom it is intended will take it for granted that the last word on tlie subject has been read .

Less intelligible is a series of clauses setting forth the rule * of debate . As these are absolutely within the ' discretion of th * - ' presiding officer , from whose decision no appeal lies unless a Masonic principle is involved , it seems rather superfluous to he

burden the bye-laws with instructions as to the course to pursued , say , when two brethren rise at the same time , or when two amendments are proposed to the main question , and what happens when one of them becomes the substantia motion , & C

The bye-laws proper gcnerallyconclude with a selection " " ^ the regulations which govern the administration of the Bene * - ' lent Fund . . . We shall next notice the usual appendices to Provi » . Grand Lodge bye-laws .