Ar00200

not already exist . " The result is that warrants for the Australian Kilwinning and City of Melbourne Royal Arch Chapters , Nos . 9 6 and 97 on the roll of the Grand Chapter of Canada , which it seems have been already working for some time past " under dispensation , " have been , or are in course of being issued , and

unless prompt steps are taken to arrest the course of this aggression , we may look to see other chapter warrants emanating from Canada and wherever else in British territory an independent Grand Chapter has been established . It is difficult to imagine a more wanton , uncalled for , and graceless attack than this on the supremacy of the Grand Lodge and

Chapter of England—for in this matter , as we have already pointed out , the two authorities are one . No pretence is made that the interests of Canadian Masonry will suffer if such a step is not adopted , or that they can be in any way advantaged by its adoption . There are probably not a dozen resident Masons in Melbourne , or even in the whole Colony of

Victoria , who were initiated in a Canadian lodge , while those of English origin are numbered by thousands , and there are plenty of Royal Arch chapters for our people to graduate in without having recourse to the good offices of Canada . If this new departure is continued , there must be an end to all harmony among the various Grand Lodges in the British Empire . It will

be impossible for them to live on amicable terms with one another if every Grand Lodge to which the Grand Lodges ot England , Ireland , and Scotland have conceded , or may hereafter concede , independence is to be free to attack or ignore the rights and privileges of the latter . Those rights and privileges are not of yesterday , but date from a period when Canada

was not even a British dependency , and , though nothing like an elaborate system of international Masonic law has ever been compiled and received the assent of the different Masonic powers , there must be some virtue in the unwritten law of Masonic usage which has existed and been respected for

all these generations . We trust the Grand Chapter of Canada will have the grace to follow the example of the Grand Lodge of Manitoba referred to last week , and withdraw her warrants , the issue of which is not only , as we believe , an offence against Masonic law , but likewise against Masonic decency .

By-Laws Of An Old Lodge.

BY-LAWS OF AN OLD LODGE .

Some 30 years ago , the "Articles and Regulations of the Friendly Society in connection with the Operative St . John's Lodge of Airdrie" were agreed \ p , based on the rules in force from January , 1 S 03 . The lodge itself was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Scotland on August 6 th , 1799 , as No . 270 , becoming 203 in 1848 , when the present enumeration was settled . Evidently this Iodge was operative in origin , and was started as an

actual organisation on October Sth , 17 88 , according to the " preamble , " the object being to support " persons who have been , or are now , Masons in low and needy circumstances . " Such lodges were common to Scotland last century , and some , as this society , have continued to this day , not a few being rich in funds . The list of office-bearers for 1857 contains titles

unusual in English lodges and some peculiarly arranged . The R . W . M . comes first , of course , followed by the P . M . Then follow the Senior and Junior Standard Bearers and the Treasurer . The next officers are the Senior and Junior Wardens and the Mark Master . The others are the Secretary , Senior and Junior Stewards , the Clerk and the Tyler .

The "Articles , " or By-laws , are singular in character , and several are quite enigmas to us . Had they been agreed to by a lodge independent of any Grand Lodge , the peculiarities might easily be explained , but as No . 203 was , and is still , on the Scottish roll ,. the matter is certainly a mystery .

No . 1 provides that " all persons entering with this lodge , must at the time of his or their admission , be above the age of fifteen , and under 40 years , To secure the designation of the lodge as operative it is proposed to admit speculatives only in the proportion of two to three operatives . "

VVe should like to know what the minimum age of fifteen means , for that of eighteen is the law of the Scottish Grand Lodge . No . 2 concerns the fees for admission , which were eleven and sixpence for apprentices from 15 to 25 years of age , Fellow Crafts seventeen shillings , and Master Masons one pound two shillings and sixpence , making a total of £ 2 lis . Extra payments were required for older candidates , the highest being a total of - £ 5 5 s . for those above 34 , but not above 40 .

VVe presume these sums must refer to the " Friendly Society , " and additional to those required to be paid on initiation , for , according to the Constitutions of 1848 , then in force , the minimum inclusive fee for the Apprentice Degree was twenty-six shillings and sixpence , no part of which could be remitted or deferred .

As , however , Article III . relates to the " Management of the Lodge , " it would seem as if the Fees also concerned that Body . All the officers were subject to ballot , save the " Clerk and Officer" ( Tyler ) , who may be continued from year to year , if considered desirable . Article 5 concerns the " Office Bearers " of the Lodge , and defines their duties , ' e . ^ g- . "The Mark Master shall attend to give marks to the Brethren , and see them enrolled in the Book " ... " The Standard-Bearers to

carry the Standards , and attend at all meetings of the Lodge , " Sec . "The Stewards shall each have a Key for the Box , and it shall be their duty to assist at all meetings of the Lodge . " Article 6 provided for fines on refusing office , and for non-attendance . Other articles relate to the " Aliment , " or payments in case of sickness ; one of which , concerning " disputes , " is worth quoting . In the event of

any dispute between a Brother and another Member , or an outsider , " two neutral men" were to have the matter referred to them , and if unable to agree , they were required to elect " a third party , " who , with the two chosen by the Lodge , were " empowered to settle the point at issue . " Each of the "disputing parties " were required to deposit the sum oi half a guinea , in evidence of their due submission to the final award , which was to be binding in character .

Lodge 203 is in the Lanarkshire Province ( Middle Ward ) , and we hope this notice will catch the eye of some member of that province , or perhaps Bro . Edward Macbean , of Glasgow , would kindly look the matter up and report in these columns .

Charlot's Lodges In Paris.

CHARLOT'S LODGES IN PARIS .

In " 5809 [ 1809 ] Chariot issued " L'Indicateur de la Tenue des Loges et L' Orient de Paris . " It was evidently intended to be an annual publication , this copy being possibly the first of the series . Kloss onl y notes the work for 1809 , and I have failed to find it in any catalogue of our large

collections or libraries and bibliographies , either at home or abroad , so it is likely not to have been continued , and must be rare . It onl y runs to some 90 pp ., rather smaller than the size of the Calendar formerl y published by the Grand Lodgeof England , 1777-1813 .

After the Introduction and Calendrier , a table is printed of the places of meeting of the lodges held in Paris , followed by lodges held at the several localities named , and also the lodges arranged according to the days of meeting , concluding with a carefully prepared Index . No attempt is made to give the dates and origin of the lodges thus enumerated .

As the names of these lodges in 1809 are useful guides to trace the particulars on Masonic medals of the period , and to identify them , I append the table printed under the several places of meeting , and hope the information may prove of service to Bro . G . L . Shackles and others who make that department their special study . W . I . H .

Table Des Loges , Rue Neuve-des-Petits- Champs . Le Phenix . Royal Arch . Sainte Josephine . Sainte-Coroline . Saint Joseph . L'Age D'Or . Anacreon . Les Freres-Unis . Le Grand-Sphinx , Rue du Viex-Colombier .

La Caroline , ci devant ia Colombe . L'Imperiale Des-Francs-Chevaliers . La Paix-Immortelle . L'Amitie . Saint Eugene . La Parfaite-Reunion . La Vraie-Reunion . L' Union . Isis . Le Chapitre-Metropolitan .

Rue J . J . Rousseau , hotel de Bidlion . Saint-Alexandre-D'Ecosse et le Contrat- L'Olympique-de-Ia-Parfaite Estime . Social * La Constance-Eprouvee . Les Liens de la Parfaite Amitie . Les Neufs-Soeurs . La Parfaite-Union .

Rue Saint-Honore , No . 219 , bis . Les Chevaliers de la Croix . Les Nomophiles . L'Aigle Francaise . Les Commandeurs du Mont Thabor . L'Epi D'Or , La Trinite . La Triple-Harmonie . Les Amis de la Justice . L'Abeille Imperiale . Le Point-Parfait . La Rose-Etoilee . Saint Napoleon . Les Admirateurs de l'Univers . Rue des Guillemites . au Marais .

Les Bons Anus . La Reunion des Strangers . Saint Augusta de la Parfaite Intelligence . Les Artistes Reunis . Les Amis Indivisibles . La Constance Couronnee . Les Disciples de Pythagore . Les Coeurs Unis . Les Amis de la Vertu . Att Grand Chdtelet .

L'Accord Parfait . La Fidelite Parfaite . Jerusalem Eccossaise . Saint Antoine du Parfait Contentment . Les Amis de la Sagesse . Les Arts Et L'Amitee . Les Amis de la Paix . Le Chapitre D'Arras . L'Union Parfaite de la Perseverance . Le Chapitre D'Arras . St . Claude De La Paix Sincere .

L'Aigle Imperiale et les Eleves Di Minerve , reunis . Mars et les Arts . La Clemente Amitie . Themis . Saint Jean de Jerusulem . Le Temple Des Muses . Saint Jean de la Grenade . Les Tributaires D' Hyram . Rue Neuve-Saint-Mednric .

Les Sinceres-Amis . St . Jean De La Palestine . Saint Michel . St . Louis de la Martinique . Saint Victor Des Amis De La Victoire . St . Pierre Des Amis Reunis . Mercure et Themis . Les Amis Incorruptibles . Les Amis de Vesta . St . Therese des Amis de la Constance . La Triple Unit £ . Rue des Gres Saint-Jacques . Les Eleves de la Nature . La Bonne Union .

Rue du Jour , pointe St , Eustache . Le Centre des Amis . Le Vrai-Zele ( Chapitre ) Rue Neuve-Saint Eustache . L'Athenee Des Strangers , rit ecossais . Place du Palais de Justice . Les Loges de ce local , ne sont pas encore connues . "

Old Warrants, Xxiii. To Xxvii.

OLD WARRANTS , XXIII . TO XXVII .

Bro . Cooper , of Dundalk , has secured from willing brethren transcripts of the following , but as the original charters are either illegible as to names of Grand Officers , or of very late date , I do not think it needful to furnish more than these few particulars .

No . 13 , LIMERICK , A . D . 1840 ( 1732 ) . This warrant , dated 18 th December , 1840 , but credited to the year 173 in the official calendar , was evidently issued to Bros . Michael Furnell , Thomas Wallnutt , and John Boyse , jun ., as VV . M . and Wardens , of what was substantially a new lodge , with the old number revived .

No . 184 , DRUM , A . D . 1789 . The lodge at Drum was doubtless originally chartered in 174 8 , as the calendar of the Grand Lodge of Ireland states . The present warrant ,

however , is dated 5 th March , 1789 , the names of the Grand Officers being obliterated . The Grand Master , according to the few letters left of the name , was doubtless Lord Glera-wley , who was succeeded in that year of Lord Donoughmore ( 2 nd Baron and subsequently ist Earl ) .

No . 295 , 4 th DRAGOON GUARDS , A . D . 1758 . The warrant lor this lodge was originally granted for the First Regit * of Horse , " commanded by Liet .-General Brown , " and dated 24 th J ^'

Reunis , mere-Ioge Ecossaise .