A Revised Code Of Laws For The Royal Masonic Institution For Boys.

boy in the Institution are dependent . " In Law LXXVII ., which defines the educational qualifications of the children who are to be admitted , the subjects in which they will be examined according to age are specified , whereas under the existing law certain Government standards arc mentioned which an elected boj' must pass before admission , the standard being regulated

according to age . In LawLXXXL , in addition to the three grounds already mentioned as justify ing the Board of Management in ordering the removal of a boy , a fourth is given , namely , " If they are of opinion that the boy ' s election has been secured by fradulent or other improper means . " We . notice also with pleasure that a new law is proposed to the following effect

" LXXXII . —In any case , when the Board of Management consider that the encouragement of any peculiar talent evinced by a boy would be of advantage to him in after life , they may afford such means of special instruction as to them seems reasonable . " Here we have the renewed idea which actuated the promoters of the "Pupils' Assistance

Fund , " and to carry out which the Centenary Fund of the Masonic Female Orphan School , Dublin , has been established . That is to say , boys will be elig ible to receive further educational advantages at the cost of the Institution if the Board of Management consider such further advantages will be of service to them in after life . We commend the proposal , and

trust it will be adopted . The limit of age of 15 years beyond which a boy must not be retained in the School is too low , because , as a rule , boys learn more between 15 and 16 years than during any previous period of their

school career . Their minds are developing , and they grasp more easily what they are taught ; and if the Quarterly Court sees its way to the adoption of the new rule , it will materially benefit the boys whom the Institution has taken under its charge .

Other additions are to be found in the proposed Code of Laws , but they do not appear to us to contain anything- of material importance , and do not need that we should refer to them specially . On the whole , and with the one or two exceptions we have noticed , we consider the proposed code is worthy of adoption , and we trust it will be adopted at the July Court , when Bro . LE FEUVRE ' motion to that effect is brought forward .

United Grand Lodge Of England.

UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND .

The following is the business to be transacted on Wednesday , thc 7 th instant : 1 . The minutes of the Quarterly Communication of the rst March for confirmation . 2 . The minutes of the Grand Festival of thc 26 th April for confirmation .

3 . Appointment and investiture of President of the Board of General Purposes . 4 . Election of members of the Board of General Purposes . 5 . Election of members of the Colonial Board , 6 . Election of Grand Lodge Auditor . 7 . Election of members for the Committee of Management of the

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution for Aged Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons . 8 . Report of the Board of Benevolence for thc last quarter , in which are recommendations for the following grants : A brother of the Leopold Lodge , No . 1571 , London ... . £ 50 o o The orphan children of a brother of the Lodge of Sincerity ,

No . 428 , Northwich 50 o o The orphan children of a brother of the Royal Forest Lodge , No . 401 , Slaidburn ... ... 50 o o A brother of the Beacontree Lodge , No . 122 S , London ... 50 o o The widow of a brother of the Druids Lodge of Love and

Liberality , No . 589 , Redruth 75 o o A brother of the Commercial Lodge , No . 411 , Nottingham ... 75 o o The widow of a brother of the Pythagorean Lodge , No . 79 , Greenwich ... ... ... 50 o o A brother ( a lunatic ) of the Sincerity Lodge , No . 1019 , Wakefield , West Yorkshire ... 100 o o

9 . REPORT OF THE BOARD or GENERAL PURPOSES . To the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England . The Board have to report that they have had before them a complaint by the Board of Benevolence against the St . Leonard ' s Lodge , No . 1766 , for supporting a petition by a recommendation purporting to be signed by the Worshipful Master , Wardens , and a majority of the members present ; but which was signed by very considerably less than a majority , and by some brethren who were not members of the lodge or present on the occasion .

The Board , considering such a breach of the law highly reprehensible as tending to mislead the Board of Benevolence , severely reprimanded the Worshipful Master , Wardens , and the other members who had signed the recommendation , and warned them to be more cautious in future .

They have further to report that from the returns made by the Fidelity Lodge , No . 430 , Ashton-under-Lyne , it appeared that two brethren who had been initiated on the 20 th January , 1892 , had been passed on the 15 th February following , two days short of the interval of 28 days required by Article 195 of the Constitutions . The Board ordered that the brethren thus irregularly advanced be re-obligated in the Second and Third Degrees before a certificate can be granted , and that the lodge be cautioned to observe strictly the law in future .

It having come to the knowledge of the Board that the members of the St . Ambrose Lodge , No . 1891 , had appeared in Masonic clothing at a banquet of their lodge where ladies and non-Masons were present , without previously obtaining a dispensation , and had moreover in such presence given the usual toasts in Masonic form , the Worshipful Master , Wardens , and brethren were summoned to attend the Board and produce the warrant and books of the lodge .

The Worshipful Master having admitted the facts , and promised that the offence should not be repeated , the Board , although considering that such proceedings were not only contrary to the written law , but also a serious breach of No . 4 of the Ancient Charges , after some discussion resolved on a more lenient penalty than the case seemed to deserve , they , therefore , severely reprimanded the lodge and warned them to be more cautious in future . Although no similar case has been brought under the formal notice of the

United Grand Lodge Of England.

Board , they regret to say that one of the officers of the St . Ambrose Lodge alleged n justification of their proceedings that the custom obtained in other lodges . They have , therefore , entered on their minutes a recommendation to their successors to treat any such cases as may be brought bsfore them in future with greater severity . Thc Board have also adjudicated upon the following complaints :

By a member of the Ivy Lodge , No . 1441 , against the WorshipFul Master for permitting the lodge to vote , at a lodge of emergency , a jewel to the late Worshipful Master without notice having been expressed in the summons , contrary to Article 166 of the Book of Constitutions , and for having , notwithstanding his protest , put for confirmation the minute of this irregular vote at the next regular meeting .

It also appeared on examination of the minutes that a candidate for initiation was proposed and seconded at this same lodge of emergency , contrary to Article 184 , and that he was balloted for , elected , and initiated at the next regular meeting . The Board ordered that the brother thus irregularly initiated should be reobligated at the next regular meeting , or at a lodge of emergency called for that purpose under the provisions of Article 185 .

For these irregularities the Worshipful Master was admonished to be more careful in the discharge of his Masonic duties for the future . Against the William Shurmur Lodge , No . 2374 , Chingford , for having on the 19 th May , 1 S 92 ,. in violation of Article 189 , elected 17 joining members , none of whom had been previously proposed and seconded at a regular lodge . The Board ordered that these brethren should be proposed and seconded at the next regular lodge , and balloted for at the regular lodge following .

For this breach of the law the lodge was fined £ 3 3 s ., severely reprimanded and cautioned to be more careful of the strict observance of the laws in future .

A Sub-Committee appointed by the Board in June last year to inquire into the work of the Grand Secretary's office have held numerous meetings during the year , and have been cordially assisted in their inquiries by the Grand Secretary and his staff . They have made many valuable suggestions which the Board have approved and ordered to be adopted . Arising out of their report the Board have to offer the following recommendations for adoption by Grand Lodge :

1 . That all appointments in the Grand Secretary ' s office should in future be b y recommendation of the Grand Secretary to the Board of General Purposes , and subject to their approval , and that promotion should not necessarily go by seniority , but on the occasion of a vacancy the appointment should be made b y fitness for the particular office vacated .

2 . That the banking account hitherto kept at the Western Branch of the Bank of England in Burlington-gardens be transferred to the Law Courts Branch , Temple Bar . 3 . That the Grand Secretary shall have a clerk capable of taking down letters and other matters in shorthand , and that Bro . A . H . Lee ( son of Bro . Lee , one of the clerks in the office ) , who has served some months on probation , be permanently engaged as such clerk at a salary of ^ 120 per annum , dating from Christmas , 1892 .

4 . That Bro , James Hodgins , who was engaged as a temporary clerk in 1887 at two guineas a week , be now placed on the staff , and that bis salary be . £ 150 per annum , dating from Christmas , 1892 . 5 . The work of the Grand Secretary ' s office having materially increased , it is recommended that an ndditional clerk be engaged at a salary of . £ 100 per annum . The Board have ordered that in future the report of each Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge be sent out as nearly as possible within 14 days after thc meeting .

The Board recommend that the following alterations be made in thc Book of Constitutions , consequent on resolutions of Grand Lodge passed December , 1892 , and confirmed March , 1893 : Rule 6 . —Below the words " Past Grand Registrar " ( 16 ) insert words " Deputy Grand Registrar , " and below " Deputy Grand Registrar " the words " Past Deputy Grand Registrars . " Below words " Past Grand Sword Bearers " ( 32 ) insert words " Deputy Grand Sword Bearer , " and below that " Past Deputy Grand Sword Bearers . "

Rule 18 . —Below the words " Grand Registrar " insert words " Deputy Grand Registrar , " and substitute for the words " Four Grand Deacons" the words "Six Grand Deacons . " Before the words " Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies " insert the word " Three , " and add " s " to word " Director . " Below words " Grand Sword Bearer" insert " Deputy Grand Sword Bearer . "

Rule 88 . —That the following words be added : That in Provinces and Districts numbering 40 lodges and upwards the Provincial or District Grand Masters shall be empowered to appoint annually " four Provincial or District Grand Deacons , " a " Provincial or District Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies , " and " three Provincial or District Assistant Grand Directors of Ceremonies .

In Provinces and Districts numbering 70 lodges and upwards the Provincial or District Grand Masters shall be empowered to appoint annually " » 1 Jt Provincial or District Grand Deacons , " a " Provincial or District Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies , " and '' three Provincial or District Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies . "

In Provinces and Districts numbering 100 lodges and upwards the Provincial or District Grand Masters shall be empowered to appoint a '' Provincial ot District Deputy Grand Registrar , " to take rank immediately after the Provincial or District Grand Registrar , " six Provincial or District Grand Deacons , " a "Provincial or District Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies , ^ " three Provincial or District Assistant Grand Directors of Ceremonies ,

and a " Provincial or District Deputy Grand Sword Bearer . " — Rule 311 . —Below the words " Grand Registrar , , £ io ios ., " to insert the words " Deputy Grand Registrar , . £ 10 ios ., " and below the words '' Grand Sword Bearer , £ 5 5 s ., " insert "Deputy Grand Sword Bearer , . £ 5 5 s ., ' and below the words " Grand Secretary , , £ 10 ios ., " insert " President of the Board of Benevolence , £ 10 10 s . "

At page 137 . —Below the words " Past Grand Standard Bearers , " insert " ™ as Deputy Grand Sword Bearers , " and below these words " Deputy Grand S * ° „ Bearer , " and below the words " President of the Board of General Purpo « insert " Past Deputy Grand Registrars , " and below these words " Deputy 0 » n Registrar . " The Board also submit a statement of the Grand Lodge accounts at t last meeting of the Finance Committee , held on Friday , the 12 th day of »> '

inst ., showing a balance in the Bank of England ( Western Brandv ^ 8629 os . 1 id ., and balance of annual allowance for library £ 4 ° 4 " , ' and in tne hands of the Grand Secretary for petty cash ; £ ioo , and servants' wages ^ 100 . ( Signed ) THOMAS FENN , President-Freemasons' Hall , London , W . C , 16 th May , 1893 .