Masonic Appeals.

lodge the night the J . W . was appointed : how ¦ could he have served the necessary twelve months ? The Grand Lodge unanimously reversed the . decision of the D . G . Master , and declared that Bro . Braine could not legally continue as W . M . or be considered in consequence a lawfully installed

VV . M . Now , we allude to this appeal for the purpose of impressing on our readers , first of all , the duty of all W . M . ' s , and indeed of all our brethren , to read and study carefully the Book of Constitutions ; and secondly , of urging on our active brotherhood the great need there is of

careful adherence to the letter of our wise and admirable laws . The great feature of English Freemasonry has been , like our natural ¦ character , happily , its law-abiding and constitutional progress , and greatly will it be to be deplored if inattention to the provisions of the Book

of Constitutions , or any deliberate departure from its enactments , on any pretences , or for any reasons , be . ever in any way carelessly or easily regarded amongst us . We cannot understand now any brother , in the face of the Book of Constitutions , so clear and explicit as the present ,

could elect as W . M . a brother who had not been twelve months Junior Warden , much less how a D . G . Master could sanction such a proceeding . Yet so it is . We beg , therefore , at this period of the year especially , to commend to all W . M . ' s and Secretaries and brethren of our Order , the careful study of the Book of Constitutions , to

remind them of our unalterable laws , and to point out the one simple course of duty in any similar question of doubt or debate . We think that the late decision of Grand Lodge will have a very good effect in convincing the Craft , that our laws are made to be obeyed in all contingencies , and not evaded or explained away .

Masonic Forbearance.

MASONIC FORBEARANCE .

' ' It is a queer world we live in , my masters , " is a saying as true as when it was first written , or given to the world . We note every day striking evidences before us , how very strange arc its tips and downs , how very peculiar are its votaries , how very reckless its ways , and how

little scrupulous ate we all for the most part , whether as regards our neighbours , our friends , our brethren , or our compeers . We cannot have lived long or seen much of society if we do not ourselves fully realize the fact , that selfishness is a motto , so to say , emblazoned on many of

this world ' s armorial bearings , over its palaces , over its " emporia" of business , over its " shining halls of plesaure , " over even the palaces of the high , and the houses of the humbler . To many of us all life is onl y a struggle , in which all means are fair and all manouvres lawful .

To distance our neighbours in the race for wealth or profit , to head them in the dirty and dusty arena , to become prosperous though they fail , and to be fortunate when they are crushed down to earth , seems to many the real aim of the great battle of life . Hence to them all

earthly existence is but an enduring struggle , in which the strong prevail and the weak are worsted , and in the hurry of the hour , in the excitement of the conflict , they have little time for thought aud less for sympathy . " People must take their chance , " " People can ' t all expect to

win , " " People must do as others do , and bear as others bear , " ' * People should not go into a fight and then whine because they are beaten ; " these , and sayings like these , we often hear from the lips of the successful , if somewhat selfish athletes , when to them , in their hour of mortal success , has come the chaplet of honour

or the wreath of victory ! Now it is against this ingrained selfishness that Freemasonry seems ever to protest ! Such persons for the most part , as wc see them act , and hear them talk , whether at home or abroad , whether in the house of merchandize or the house of feasting , whether in the " forum " or some other select

assembly , are ever most overbearing and intolerant . They have done very well , why has not every one else ? is their apparent idea . Therefore , they have no endurance and no forbearance for

others , for those , the weary , who have either made a false start or mistaken the course , or grown weak , and faint , and weary : or who , for some cause or another , have utterly failed , whether in the struggle or the race . Now , it

Masonic Forbearance.

is just in these points that Freemasonry may give vis all many a beneficial lesson . We ail of us need forbearance ourselves in countless things and many ways , though we ate ignorant of the fact or choose to forget it : and Freemasonry bids us all remember it , and therefore shevv

forbearance to others . The world in which we live is made up of incongruities and inconsistences , of anomalies very many , of contradictions most abounding ; and many are its p itfalls , as well as its falls ; its weaknesses as well as its errors , its misfortunes as well as'its tribulations for every

brother and sister of the dust ! We all know life is not , and cannot be , always sunshine to any of us here : for many of us its grass has long since withered , its trees have lost their foliage , its songs are hushed , and its flowers are faded , and we are like the guests

of the fairy story , where the table is surrounded by phantom associates , and where the food , and the garlands , and the wine , and the plate , are all but tinsel , covering the dust and ashes underneath !« - Freemasonry comes to us then , and bids us be considerate , tolerant , and forbearing . We are to feel for others and with others . If we

are prosperous we should seek to help others in adverse circumstances ; if we are happy we should endeavour kindly to solace the bruised spirit and the grieving heart ; if we are full of this life ' s good things we should remember ever and anon that some are not so blessed as we are .

And , above all , we should be very forbearing in thought , and will , and work . When the world makes no allowance we should make every allowance . When others are calumnious or malignant we should be very charitable , when others greedilv accept the poisoned rumour , or the

slanderous tale , we should not " look down with contempt upon the dirt ; " when others are openmouthed we should be reticent ; and when others are overbearing we should be forbearing . This should be our golden law of life , our silver rule of action . We should ever keep before us the

fact that we are brethren , ' and as true and steady Craftsmed we should never cease to be full of sympathy for our brethren , but should ever endeavour to be most foi bearing , conscious that we all need , ever greatly need , forbearance ourselves .

What Jewels May Legally Be Worn In Lodge.

WHAT JEWELS MAY LEGALLY BE WORN IN LODGE .

We apprehend that the question " What jewels may legally be worn in lodge , " is entirely governed by the Book of Constitutions , and can only be answered by proper authority . When our laws talk of a " honorary or other jewel , " of medals , " an "emblem , " or "device , " which

may each and all be worn in lodge if" consistent with those degrees of Masonry which are recognised by Grand Lodge , " or " under its control , " they surely carry a distinct meaning , and allow a definite interpretation . That meaning and interpretation wc contend are as follows .

Emblems , medals , and devices which may be fitly worn in lodge , just as all those jewels or medals , or devices , or emblems , which belong to a grade not recognised are strictl y forbidden and can never be Masonically put on in lodge . Hence we see that the real discussion turns and turns alone on this

one fact —what are really the jewels , & c , which are consistent with the Grand Lodge recognition of pure and ancient Masonry , and which in consequence , may be worn by our brethren in lodge ; And here , confessedly , the matter assumes a somewhat difficult phasis . The three provisions

of the Book of Constitutions which refer to the subject seem only to relate to the jewels of present or past rank pendent to collars , and no other jewel is apparently recognised by the Book of Constitutions but the " Centenary Jewel . " The Charity Medal , strangely enough , is not

mentioned in the Book of Constitutions , and rests on the authority of the conjoint sanction of the Grand Master and the Grand Lodge . In the last " Freemason " there appeared an extract from what purports to be a repl y of our esteemed and

worth y Grand Secretary on the subject , but which we think does not quite full y or fairl y represent Bro . Heivey ' s views on the matter . He seems to say , that he is " not aware of any jewels authorised to be worn save the Charity Medal , especially sanctioned by the Grand Master , and

What Jewels May Legally Be Worn In Lodge.

such jewels of Grand Officers as are named in the Book of Constitutions . " The letter is of date June 23 rd , this year , and addressed , " sic dicita , " to Bro . J . A . Hayes . We do not , however , deem it to be quite correct or complete , for this reason , that our Grand Secretary , who

is well known to be a " Master" alike of Constitutional lore and ritualistic enactments , entirely leaves out the " Centenary Jewel . " Bro . Hervey points out what is undeniable , that lodge jewels , and jewels with the name of a lodge upon thtm , without the sanction of the

Grand Master are absolutely illegal , and in this we heartily agree with him . He also adds , as we ourselves said , a short time back , that there are probably not more than half a dozen lodges possessing a lodge jewel . Now it is quite clear to us that , though the Book of Constitutions is

silent upon the subject , probably for a good reason , the Grand Master " Virtute Officii , " and "jure suo , " is the fountain of Masonic honour , just as the sovereign is the fountain of all civic dignity . The sovereign can issue orders to form a new order of knighthood or appoint a

decoration to be worn to-morrow , just is she can forbid all foreign insignia to be exhibited by her subjects . And in like manner our Grand Master can give his sanction to a lodge to establish an honorary jewel , to be worn by its members , and such sanction rests alone upon his supreme

authority in that respect . Indeed , as we have before said , we venture we think , that if each lodge had its own lodge jewel under the warrant of the Grand Master , and on payment of a regular fee , the "jewel question " would be naturally lessened in importance ; and much good would

accrue to our Fund of Benevolence if the fee for each lodge warrant to have a lodge jewel as specified on the warrant , subject to needtul expenses in the Grand Secretary ' s office , was made a portion of the income of the Fund of Benevolence . The question must ere long be

authoritatively settled , as at present there is much necessary doubt on the subject . It is quiteclear to us , for instance , that the Book of Constitutions means something when it talks of an " honorary or other jewel , " an " emblem . " a medal , " a "device , " but what does it mean ? A

" medal" certainly is not a 'jewel , " a " jewel is not a "device , " a " device " is not an "emblem : " these are not synonymous or even alternative terms , they have each ana all an independent and special meaning . Therefore we come back to the original query , what are they , which are

they r In our humble opinion , all emblems , devices , medals , honorary or other jewels which arc consistent with the three degrees of Masonry , are wearable in lodge ! And , however hypercritical or parodoxical it may seem to some , we doubt very much whether Royal Arch jewels

can be worn out of a Royal Arch Chapter . Wthopc , however , er « long that the question may be officially settled , but we confess that we fancy , it is not quite so easy a matier judicially to decide , in a spirit of careful and legal interpretation , as

some of our correspondents appear to think . The wording of the Book of Constitutions is so special and yet so peculiar on the subject , that we feel quite persuaded it must require a good deal both of legal acumen and common sense , to give a judical deliverance on so " vexata " a " questio . ' '

The Girls' School.

THE GIRLS' SCHOOL .

The Special General Court of the Governors and Subscribers of the Girls' School takes place at Freemasons' Hall , this day ( Saturday ) , at 12 o ' clock , and we recommend all qualified members to be there . We were very glad to see our excellent Bro . Col . Creaton ' s motion , and trust that it may be unanimously agreed to . We shall recur to the subject next week .

Tin : LATE Q LARTEIILY COMMUNICATION or UIIANU LUDCK . —At the conclusion of our report of this meeting in the " Freemason " of last week , it is stated that bro . Carpenter moved the negativing of the Rev . R . J . Simpson ' s proposition for granting £ 100 to the Palestine Ex ploration Fund , and that Bro . John Constable , VM 185 , seconded Dr . Carpenter ' s amendment . " The

amendment was put , and but few hands were held up for it ; whereupon Bro . Constable wished to withdraw from seconding the amendment . " Bro . Constable informs ou ; reporter that this is a mistake ; that he did not rise to withdraw from his position as seconder of the amendment , but that he rose and asked the acting Grand Master what was the purport of the amendment which he himself had just seconded .