Contents.

CONTENTS .

LEADERS 5 " United Grand Lodge 3 ' Consecration of the Grove Lodge , No . 1957 , at Hazel Grove , Cheshire 31 . 5 The Royal Visit to Leicester 314 Let Your Light Shine 3 ' 4 Consecration of Royal Arch Chapters at \\ uaicsneau

| arroanu JIJ Annual Siv per of the Dalhousie Lodge of Instruction , No . 860 31 . 1 Masonic Concert at Wigan 315 Masonic Benevolence Association for Jamaica 31 $ CORRESPONDENCEThe Girls' School 316 Bro . Kdmonston's Letter 317

Reviews 3 " 7 Masonic Notes and Queries 317 REPORTS OF MASONIC MEETINGSCraft Masonry 3 ' 7 ) Instruction 31 S Mark Masonry 3 > 9

Jamaica 319 ' South Africa 3 " ) Obitnarv 319 The Theatres 3 = 0 Music 320 Science and Art 32 ° Masonic and General Tidings 321 Lodge Meetings for Next Week 333 Historical Calendar 3-3

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THE notice in last Freemason in respect of Bro . STEVEN ' S motion turns out to be , as we fancied , both incorrect and , at any rate , premature . Though we do not think that any fault can be found with its wording , which is both respectful and to the point , yet so narrow is the line of demarcation which exists between the privileges of Grand Lodge and the prerogatives of the

GRAND MASTER , that , on constitutional grounds , as we apprehend is the case , such a notice is held by the advisers of the GRAND MASTER lo be " ultra vires " as regards the action of Grand Lodge , and is , tlierefore , not

p laced on the agenda paper . This surely is a wise decision , as it saves an useless discussion and the time of Grand Lodge , inasmuch as the objection to the notice , on the score of constitutional propriety , must , we venture to think , have been fatal both in respect of its acceptance and discussion .

* THE agenda paper for next Grand Lodge is a very important one , and sets before us a programme of a long " seance . " It includes the normal business and the election of the quota of the Boards of Benevolence , General Purposes , and the Colonial Board , as selected by Grand Lodge , and two

appeals and six motions . There is ( i ) Bro . Baron de FERRIERES' motion for telling the votes of Grand Lodge on a division , which seems to us to be botli simple and sensible , plain and practical . The one objection to the turnstiles was the moving and confusion , and any attempt to assimilate the system of Grand Lodge to that of Parliament was both absurd and

impossible on the face of it . ( 2 and 3 ) . Bro . J CLABON ' S motion for the increase of Metropolitan contributions to the Fund of Benevolence will attract attention , and will receive a good deal of support on its merits . We do not feel , however , quite sure that it is wise or seasonable to raise the question just now , and think it had better be deferred until the

proposed revision of the Book of Constitutions is fully and fairly discussed . The fourth motion is by Bro . RAYNHAM \ V . STEWART , as to the increase of the grant to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . No doubt some increase may fairly be asked for , and legitimately conceded ; and conceding the principle of augmentation , it becomes a mere question of finance .

Can the Grand Lodge afford an additional £ Soo per annum out of £ 4000 nett income , ( more or less ) , per annum ? This is the question Grand Lodge has to answer , and it is not for us to discount or forestall its possible or probable decision on the subject . The fifth motion is by Bro . EDWARD BUDDEN to create two musical exhibitions in aid of the Royal College for Music , one

for £ 80 and one for £ 40 . The first thought ( hat strikes us , has Bro . BUDDEN quite realised the amount involved in his proposal , which at 3 per cent , must be £ 4000 , though less if an interest of 4 or 5 per cent , could be secured . At the same time the object is a very good and praiseworthy one and one , too , in which loyal Freemasons will feel much personal interest for

various reasons . The last motion is by our esteemed G . TREASURER , to grant £ 70 to the inmates of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution at Croydon for winter coals . This will be carried " nem . diss . " So our readers will perceive that for once the agenda paper offers them a very diversified " menu . "

IT will be noticed that the Board of General Purposes has completed by its Committee the revision of the Book of Constitutions , and properly suggest a special Grand Lodge to consider the alterations . It would be impossible to attend to such important details at an ordinary Quarterly Communication .

* WE are glad to notice that the Board of General Purposes has very properly " pulled up " a lodge for inattention to the Book of Constitutions on a most

important point . Such is the ignorance of many worthy brethren in re the Book of Constitutions , that many more deviations from it ' occur than ever come before the official notice of our rulers . We heard a good story the other day , and which , unlike many stories , is authentic . A brother was dis-

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cussing some matters with a distinguished member of our Order , when that distinguished member observed a shade of doubt and dissatisfaction stealing over his interviewer ' s face . " You have alluded frequently , " that interviewer added , " to the Book of Constitutions . Mai' I ask you what is the Book of

Constitutions ? " Our friends ma } ' well try to realize the collapse and the denouement . We would again impress upon our readers' and all Masters of lodges , the wisdom of presenting all initiates with a copy of this " great work . " Indeed , we venture to think also that every W . M ., on his installation , ought to have a copy specially and personally presented to him .

\ YK have very great respect for our distinguished Bro . J CLABON ; we remember his high Masonic career , his meritorious work , and the signal services he has rendered to Masonic Benevolence . But a dictum of his , as reported in the printed proceedings of Grand Lodge is , in our humble opinion , so essentially unsound and unsafe , that for fear of unwise action and

mischievous precedents , we feel bound to call attention to it and most respectfully to protest against it . It was the famous declaration of Lord ZETLAND on a very memorable occasion , that there is no power of adjournment either in Grand Lodge , Prov . Grand Lodge , or Private Lodge . It is true that the word "adjourned " creeps in in our older formula ; , but then it is supposed

to refer to another meeting elsewhere , not to the Iodge which pro hac vice , is absolutely and finally closed . And such has been the unchanged and unchanging common law , our lex inscripta , since 1717 . There is no record , strictly speaking , producible ( except through error of ignorance ) of an adjourned lodge , though we fancy that in some earlier days a quasi sort of

adjournment was lor a special cause , held to be possible for G . Lodge , and took place , but was afterwards given up as unconstitutional , and has never since been practised . If our very distinguished brother's doctrine , as reported in Grand Lodge minutes , be correct , any lodge can adjourn . The Lodge of Benevolence , as a lodge , is opened

and closed as such ; and if it can adjourn an ) ' lodge can adjourn . Considering that the Lodge of Benevolence lias been now at work for a very long space of time , and that no such idea was ever formerly held , that no sucli action has ever taken place , it is quite clear that such a departure from precedent , custom , and normal procedure could not take place without the

sanction of the highest authority . As we all know , and value , and esteem highly our distinguished brother , words from him have a value and importance which do not attach to ordinary speeches , and we have felt it right , and we feel sure he will not blame us for it , to give expression to our honest and deliberate opinion upon the subject , based as that is on the study and usage of the J 3 ook of Constitutions and Masonic ritual now for many years .

THE balance-sheet of the Grand Lodge is very striking , and worthy of attentive consideration . The returns for the Fund of Benevolence amount , with money borrowed from the Fund of General Purposes to meet a deficiency , to £ 12 , 256 2 s . Its expenditure to £ 12 , 256 2 s ., including an adverse balance of £ 1540 17 s . The real deficiency for the year ending December

31 st seems to be £ 1743 ns ., inasmuch as 1881 begun with a balance to debit of £ 1540 17 s ., and the sum of £ 328 4 Ss . covers both these amounts . It is not quite fair to say that the Lodge of Benevolence is overdrawing to the amount of £ 3000 a year , inasmuch as there is a payment of £ Soo out of its funds to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution , and of , £ 32 5 s . for

printing , Sec . ; so that when we subtract £ 03 2 5 s . from £ 1743 J is . the nett deficiency on the benevolence votes is £ 911 6 s . But having said this , we feel bound freely to confess that we think we are making some of our grants unnecessarily large . It is a fallacy to assume that because we have a large balance to the good therefore we are to give in marked "largesse . " We

are bound to give proper and liberal grants , but no more ; and just as undoubtedly , our grants were formerly too sparing , so now we are in the danger of rendering them too liberal , thereby increasing immeasurably the claims on our benevolence , and the strain on our resources . _ There ; was at the close of 1881 the sum of £ 50 , 016 10 s . ( 3 d ., 3 per Cent . Consols , to the credit

of the Inuid of Benevolence . Its dividends amount to . £ 1500 in round numbers , and lodge contributions to £ 7310 . It disbursed in " bona fide " charitable grants in 1881 the remarkable amount of £ 9883 . The Fund for General Purposes has on the receipt side £ 15 , 988 17 s . 2 d . ; on the expendidure £ 12 , 019 is . 6 d ., with a nett balance of £ 1784 15 s . 8 d ., which is exclu .

sivc of ^ 175 wages , £ 2010 spent in the purchase of £ 2000 3 per Cent . Reduced , —a very satisfactory state of affairs . It had on the 31 st of December £ 13 , 155 3 per Cent . Reduced in Stock . Its income from dividends is £ 356 4 s . Sd . ; rents , £ 2820 15 s . 9 d . ; contribution of lodges , £ 7297 12 s . 6 d . ; and contribution of Grand Chapter , £ 417 . We feel bound to say that the