Masonic Jurisprudence.

they having decided to work for the future under the recently recognised Grand Lodge of New Zealand . The procedure preliminary to such transfer of allegiance , has already been discussed in our columns , and it onl y remains to state that the

usual p lan is to return the warrants to the Grand Secretary , b y whom they are cancelled , and very frequently , at the request of the lodges , they are returned to serve as mementoes of the former connection with this Grand Lodge .

In order to ensure the ri g hts and privileges of minorities and to prevent any subsequent dispute , Grand Lodge resolved , in September , 1898 , that the Grand Master be requested to order that such warrants should not be cancelled until three months should elapse from the date of their receipt by the Grand

Secretary . Our late brother Richard Eve , who ever looked after the interests of loyal minorities , and to whom , practically , Lodo-e Cambrian owes its continued existence as an English lodo-e , was very careful to ascertain that this procedure had been comp lied with in the cases of the 20 lodges referred to .

Erasure may follow the absence of returns , but Grand Lodge is very long suffering when a colonial or foreign lodge is concerned . In the case of a lodge in England we imagine that a lodge from which no returns came to hand , even for so

comparatively short a period as one year , would meet with very short shrift . An example of such long suffering was to be found in the case of Lodge Homer , No . 806 , Smyrna , which has survived suggestions for its erasure on these grounds .

Erasure , as a strictl y penal measure , is a very rare occurrence . The writer recollects but one such case , and there was evidence of such bad feeling in the lodge that reconciliation seemed hopeless , in fact , many of the members sent up a petition for erasure . Grand Lodge alone has the power of

erasure , a power " it does not delegate to any subordinate authority in England " ( Article 5 ) . The procedure is similar to that obtaining in other penal cases , the Master and Wardens

being summoned to show cause . Provincial Grand Lodge makes recommendations to Grand Lodge ( Article 73 ) and District Grand Lodges may exercise the p lenary power ( Article 106 ) . In our next we shall refer to the subject of expulsion , and then u : o on to discuss the question of lodge by-laws .

Scotland.

Scotland .

GRAND LODGE . A quarterly meeting of the above G . Lodge was held in the Freemasons ' Hall , Edinburgh , on the 2 nd instant . Bro . the Hon . James Hozier , M . P ., G . Master , presided , and he was supported by Bros . Lord Saltoun , P . G . Master ; John Graham of Broadstone , G . Master Depute ; James Berry , Prov . G . Master Forfarshire ; J . T . Cathcart , yr . of Pitcairlie ; W . A , Dinwiddie , Prov . G . Master Dumfriesshire ; Colonel Campbell , Prov . G .

Master West Perthshire ; and other office bearers of provincial lodges . The G . Warden's chairs were occupied by Bros , the Hon . Charles M . Ramsay , S . G . W ., and Major V . W . Allan . The G . MASTER submitted a letter from liro . Lord Kosslyn , dated ( rom London on the -7 th ult ., enclosing a letter in which he stated that the brethren in Cape Town had been exceedingly kind to him during his visit there , and that he also met some at Pietermaritzburg , but had no time to

attend any of the lodge meetings . His lordship enclosed a letter , dated the 22 nd ult ., received by him from the Secretary of the Lodge Rising Star , in Bloemfontein , referring to a letter from the G . Master , addressed to the Master of the Lodge Rising Star , " which communication had unfortunately been taken from you during your captivity at Pretoria . " Regret was expressed that his lordship had not been able to visit the lodge , and fraternal greetings were sent to the G . Master . ( Applause . ) On the motion of the G . MASTER , it was agreed to record this in the minutes .

The following visiting brethren were introduced by liro . George Crawford , G . D . C . : Bros . Edward Pretty , Past District Grand Secretary of Western Australia ; W . H . Hinton , P . M . of Lodge Caledonia , Port Elizabeth , South Africa ; William VVhitton , Senior Warden of Lodge Alan Wilson , Bulawayo ; A . R . C . Clark , Master of Lodge Yokohama ; and George Taylor , P . M . of Lodge Cosmopolitan , Shanghai . Tney were

welcomed from the chair , and spoke on the state of Freemasonry in their respective provinces . The brother from Bulawayo said all the office bearers were out fighting . On the recommendation of Grand Committee , the Right Hon . Lord Northcote , Governor of Bombay , was appointed Grand Master of All Scottish Freemasonry in India , in succession to Lord S indhurst ; and Bro .

Miguel Gener y Rincon was appointed to represent Grand Lodge in the Grand Lodge of Cuba . Grants amounting to . £ 205 iSs . 6 d . were made from the Benevolent Fund . It was reported that the number of annuitants on the Fund at January last was 114 , and the value of the annuities was £ 1180 . Twenty-six new annuities were granted .

Before the meeting of Grand Lodge , there was a gathering of members i " k ° * room of the Freemasons' Hall for the purpose of presenting Lad y Saltoun with a marble bust of her husband , in recognition of his services to the Craft during his three years of occupancy of the chair . The Grand Master , Bro . the Hon . James Hozier , M . P ., presided , having on his

Scotland.

right Lady Saltoun , and on his left , Lord Saltoun . There was a representative gathering of the office bearers of Grand Lodge . The GRAND MASTER , in making the presentation of the bust to Lady Saltoun , said that among the many duties and privileges which belonged to the Grand Master Mason of Scotland , the most honourable of all was probably that of presenting the bust of his predecessor , and he was certain

that the present company were particularly glad to make this presentation , for he did not suppose they ever had a Grand Master Mason of Scotland who had been better supported by his wife than Lord Saltoun had been by Lady Saltoun . ( Applause . ) They all knew that a man was very much what his wife made him , and they had good reason to be grateful to Lady Saltoun for what she had made Lord Saltoun . His lordship had always

taken a prominent and active part in everything connected with Masonry , and he had been ably assisted on every occasion by Lady Saltoun . It was , perhaps , a pity that ladies had not a system of Freemasonry of their own , for if they had he was sure that Lady Saltoun would occupy a very high position in the Freemasonry of ladies , possessing as she did that personal sympathy and unselfishness which were the two keynotes in all Masonry ,

and which all present thoroughly appreciated . ( Applause . ) He had great pleasure in presenting Lady Saltoun with the bust of her husband , who for three years so admirably managed the affairs of Grand Lodge as Grand Master Mason of Scotland , and they all earnestly prayed that the bust might be handed on from father to son in direct line for many and many a generation of their illustrious family .

The G . Master then unveiled the bust , amid Joud applause . It is of pure Carrara marble , executed by Mr . W . G . Stevenson , R . S . A ., and is a splendid likeness . On the pedestal there is the following inscription ; " Presented by Grand Lodge of Scotland to Lady Saltoun in acknowledgment of the services of her husband , the Right Honourable Lord Saltoun , as Grand Master Mason , 1 S 97-9 S-00 . "

A replica of the bust will be placed in the Freemasons' Hall among those of other Past Grand Masters .

Bro . Lord SALTOUN , in acknowledging the presentation on behalf of Lady Saltoun , assured them that any inconvenience to which Lady Saltoun had been put in furthering any object connected with Freemasonry was a small consideration for her , as she was always anxious to do her best for the Craft and the community among whom she lived . He had also to thank the G . Master for the kind words in which he referred to himselfand he

, could say that during the three years in which he presided over Grand Lodge he had received universal support , both from Grand Lodge and Grand Committee , and it would be a long time before he would forget the many friendships he had made during hi * term of office . He hoped those friendships would continue in the future as in the past , and although he had

vacated the throne , he had not vacated the hearts of his brother Masons . ( Applause . ) He concluded by expressing his regret that Grand Secretary Bro . Murray Lyon was prevented through ill-health from being present , and his lordship also expressed the hope that in some future time he would be able to offer the hospitality of his humble home to a large deputation from Grand Lodge . ( Applause . )

At the call of Grand Master three hearty cheers were given for Lord and Lady Saltoun , and the proceedings terminated . Lord and Lady Saltoun afterwards entertained the brethren , to the number of over 40 , to luncheon in the Balmoral Hotel . Lord Saltoun occupied the chair , and proposed the only toast— " The Oueen and the Craft . "

The GRAND MASTER afterwards called for "Three hearty cheers fot Lord and Lady Saltoun and their fireside , " and these were cordially given . In replying , Lord SALTOUN expressed the pleasure given his wife and himself to meet members of Grand Lodge . n that time , and the hope that they would see them at his home at Philorth , Aberdeenshire .

Provincial Grand Lodge Of Perthshire East.

PROVINCIAL GRAND LODGE OF PERTHSHIRE EAST .

A quarterly communication of the above Provincial Grand Lodge wag held on the 27 th ult ., in the Masonic Hall , High-street . Amongst those pretcnt were Bros . Lieut .-Col . Campbell , P . G . M . ; T . Chalmers , Depute Prov . G . M . ; T . I . Millar , Prov . . J . G . W ., acting as Prov . S . G . W ., in the

absence of Bro . Dr . J . H . Morrison , Prov . S . G . W . ; J . W . T . M'Callum , R . W . M . 3 , acting as Prov . J . G . W . ; A . J . Stephenson , Prov . G . Sec ; D . C . Smith , Prov . G . Treas . ; the Rev . J . M . Strachan , M . A ., B . D ., Prov . G . Chap . ; Fyfe , Prov . G . Org . ; Scott , R . W . M . 122 , as Prov . G . l . G . ; and M'Intyre , Prov . G . Marsha / .

The Prov . G . Secretary intimated apologies for absence from Bros , the Maiquis of Breadalbane , K . G ., P . P . G . M . ; A . G . Reid , Sub . Prov . G . M . ; T . G . Smith , Prov . G . Org . ; and Stewart , R . W . M . 74 . The minutes of last quarterly communication and that of a special communication held at Methven on 9 th May last were read and confirmed .

Bro . STEVENSON , Prov . G . Sec , then intimated that his obligation to continue in office ( made at the last annual election of office bearers ) for six months in order to see the work of the Provincial Grand Lodge carried out in connection with Kildrummie Lodge , Methven , had now been fulfilled , and he hoped to be at once relieved from the duties of his office .

Thereafter- a considerable discussion in which Bros . T . Chalmers , Strachan , M'Callum , and others , took part , all of which expressed a sincere desire that the Prov . Grand Secretary should not at the present time insist upon relinquishing his office . Bio . Lieut .-Colonel CAMIUIELL , P . G . M ., summed up the discussion with a most earnest appeal to Bro . Stephenson not to insist on going against

the unanimous feeling of the meeting , and to continue his office as Prov . Grand Secretary until the next election . This , after pointing out his sincere wish to be relieved , and giving very substantial reasons for the same , he agrted to do and would perform the duties to the best of his abilities till the next annual election . However , should he not be able to keep up his

work as he had done during the past , he hoped they would look over any shortcoming * that might occur , as he really was not in a position owing to ihe stale of his health and pressing business emergencies to continue to hold the office after that date . This was all the business .