Reform In The Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

they set to work . Letters were written to unrepresented lodges recommending to each of them some trusty bi other , and asking that he might be appointed Proxy Master , and soon as he had received his commission , he proceeded to appoint two Proxy Wardens . In

the selection of Proxy Masters and Proxy Wardens , the one thing attended to was the certainly of a vote on the right side . Masonic knowlege , Masonic experience , and all other things worthy of consideration as entitling a man to the honour of a place in the Grand Lodge ,

were utterly disregarded , indeed a mean subserviency was a great recommendation . Thus the Grand Lodge came to have amongst its members , many who had just recently been admitted into the Brotherhood , and could not be supposed to know much about the questions which were

likely to come before the Grand Lodge , or to make up their minds upon them intelligently and wisely j many of imperfect education , and of social position very far from elevated . It was not uncommon for men to be made Masons in order that they might be presently brought into Grand Lodge , to give their votes on the

most important questions—questions of such a nature as they had never before heard of . An active member of the Grand Lodge went about among his acquaintances , particularl y those of rather inferior station in society than himself , and after perhaps sounding them a little , suggested the idea of their becoming Masons , and getting into Grand Lodge .

To be members of the Grand Lodge was an honour much to be desired , but there was a difficulty in the way—the payment ofthe fees . This was quickly removed , the fees were to be paid for the new member , and the honour was to cost him nothing . However , a clear

understanding was come to on the subject of voting , and the brother who feared he mi ght be at a loss how to vote , was either instructed as to some particular question , or told that all would be right if lie held up his right hand when he saw his friend do so who procured for him the appointment of

Proxy Master or Proxy Warden for some lodge of the existence of which he had never before heard , situated in some village , the very name of which was new to him , and its geographical position unknown . And all was made right accordingly . In this and no better way

were many motions carried in the Grand Lodge . What wonder that the Grand Lodge failed to command the respect which it ought to have received from the whole brotherhood in Scotland r What wonder that its all ' airs were grieviously mismanaged , anil that the lodges and

Provincial Grand Lodges were often aggrieved by its proceedings ? What wonder that the abolition of the proxy system is a subject of general rejoicing and mutual congratulations ? It may be thought somewhat wonderful , however , that thc motion for a thorough reform of

the Grand Lodge was carried in the Quarterl y Communication of 6 th May . This was not accomplished without an effort , but it was by means of the most honourable kind ; by an awakening ofthe interest of Freemasons throughout the country in a matter so deeply concerning

their interests and that of those of the Order . Lodges were thus led to send up their Actual Master and Wardens to the Grand Lodge , in such numbers , that a majority in favour of the motion was obtained . New life was infused into the Grand Lodge , and means were

at once adopted to insure its continued vigourmeans very simple , but than which no better could possibly be employed . The only reason which could ever be advanced in favour of the proxy system—that which has already been stated , has ceased to have the force it once had .

Travelling is now so rapid and inexpensive that the Masters and Wardens of lodges , even in the most distant part of the country , may easily attend the communications of the Grand Lodge , lt may be mentioned that the Grand Lotlge , at onv of its quarterly communications , appointed anew

office-bearer , a Grand Director of Excursions , who may be expected to make arrangements with railway companies , not only concerning excursions , but also the travelling of members of the Grand Lodge to and from its place of meeting on occasion of its communications .

Reform In The Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

Masters and Wardens of lodges will thus have the opportunity of taking part in the discussion and decision of all questions coming before the Grand Lodge , and those in which any lodge or Provincial Grand Lodge is particularly interested , are sure to receive due attention . Great

advantage may also be expected to result from their saying how the Grand Lodge is worked , and thus acquiring Masonic knowledge and experience which they may afterwards turn to account in their respective spheres . Hitherto thc means possessed by Scottish Freemasons in general of

making such acquirements have been very limited . Great advantage may also be expected from the very diffusion of interest in the proceedings of the Grand Lodge , and the concerns of Freemasonry , by Masters and Wardens returning from its meetings to their own lodges .

A most important part of the reform just accomplished is thc new position assigned to Past Masters . The office of Master of a lodge is made more worth aspiring to by the permanent right of membership in the Grand Lodge now conferred upon Past Masters . This , which has long been the rule in the English jurisdiction , is new to that of Scotland .

Hitherto in Scotland , through a blind mistake seriously detrimental to the interests of the Order , Past Masters have been shelved , and the knowledge and experience which they have acquired as Masters of lodges and in the inferior offices tlirough which they ascended to this , has

never been made available in any special way . As members for life of the Grand Lodge they will now be able to render valuable services ; and much benefit may be confidently anticipated from the presence in the Grand Lodge of a large number of really well trained Masons ,

instead of its being m great part composed , as hitherto , of Masons as untrained and ignorant of Freemasonry , as any to be found in Scotland , who have never held any ollice in any ledge , and some of whom their own lodges would never think of appointing even as Stewards . It is not

to be supposed that any man can attain a thorough knowledge of Freemasonry in a day . Years of careful study and observation are requisite , before anyone , however intelligent , becomes acquainted with all its laws , regulations , and modes of workinov

The change now made in the Constitution of the Grand Lodge will give a fresh impulse to the study of Masonry amongst the younger brethren , with whom it will be a matter of honourable ambition to qualify themselves for those offices in the Grand Lodge which give the right of

membership of the Grand Lodge , and especially for the office of Master which gives that right for life . A secondary advantage , but not an inconsiderable one , will be the discontinuance of the practice prevalent in many lodges of re-electing the same brother as Master year after year ,

by which the younger members are discouraged and made careless of all that concerns Freemasonry . Whilst well trained Masons take the place of untrained Masons in the Grand Lodge , or in Masonic phrase , smooth ashlars of rough ashlars—the process of training will be more

assiduously carried on everywhere , and smooth ashlars will become more numerous in all lodges . If lodges in the colonies wish any matter to be brought under the consideration of the Grand

Lodge they will now have an opportunity of entrusting to the care of a Past Master , really capable of attending it well . The names of Past Masters will of course always appear in the Grand Lodge roll , from which a list of them can easil y be obtained .

Of course in the motion carried on the 6 th of May , the term Past Master must be regarded as denoting those who have been actually Masters of lodges and them only . There is a Masonic honour peculiar to Scotland , known as a Past

Master ' s Degree , conferred on brethren who have never filled the ollice of Master of a lodge . On them no right of membership of the Grand Lodge is conferred . They were certainly not contemplated in the motion .

1 'hey are Past Masters only nominally , not really . It were to be desired that the conferring of a Past Master ' s Degree should be discontinued .

Reform In The Grand Lodge Of Scotland.

There is absurdit y in styling a man Past Master who never was Master , and the confusion of the nomenclature is inconvenient .

Grand Mark Lodge.

GRAND MARK LODGE .

On 1 uesday week , at the conclusion of the business of the Grand Lodge , the brethren partook of a sumptuous banquet at Freemasons ' Tavern , when about sixty brethren sat down to table , headed by Earl Percy , M . W . G . M . M . M ., who had on his left the Rev . G . Raymond Portal ,

P . G . M . M . M ., and was supported by most of his newly appointed Grand Officers . At the clearing of the cloth , the choir provided by Bro . John Read , P . G . O ., sang grace , and the toasts of the evening were immediately proceeded with .

The Grand Master , in proposing the toast of "The Queen , " said that the Institution which he should couple with the name of Her Majesty was one which was well worthy to be in such good company , the great institution of Mark Masonry , which was as widely spread as the

British dominions . It had flourished under the rule of successive Grand Masters , but never more so than under the Grand Master who had immediately preceded him . He felt that he should have a very onerous task before him to emulate the works of these Past Grand Masters

but he was certain of this , that whether he could or could not in any way benefit Mark Masonry , it had now made such a start that it was sure to flourish , and would nourish in spite of everything . The Rev . G . Raymond Portal , P . G . M ., then proposed "The Health of the M . W . G . M ., " and

said he knew it would give the brethren as great pleasure to drink it as it did him . to propose it . The Grand Master did not come before them as an unknown man . First of all they had known him as their Deputy Grand Master for some years , the duties of which he had fulfilled to their entire satisfaction . He was also Provincial

Grand Master of that most important Province of Northumberland and Durham , and the great success which had attended Mark Masonry hitherto would continue , they might safely prophecy , from the excellent proofs he had already given of the regularity and rigour of his administration .

The M . W . G . M ., who , on rising to acknowledge the toast was received with great applause , said : —Most Worshipful Past Grand Master and Brethren , I thank you very much for the cordial way in which my health has been proposed , and for the very kind way in which you have

accepted it . I confess that I rise upon this occasion with feelings of more shyness , if I may be allowed to use the expression , than ordinary , becatue I feel , in the first place , that you have done me a kindness this evening which is not often accorded to one of your Grand Masters .

When you were kind enough last year to elect me as your Grand Master , if I had been able to accept at once the honour which you designed for me , I should have felt that I had received great honour and great consideration at your hands : but when you were content to wait my

time , as it were—although , perhaps , it might not strictly be called my time j yet when you were contented to wait to have to rule over youthough I do not give you much credit for that , because I know you had over you one in whom you placed more confidence than in most of

those who rule the Craft , yet m some sense a state of uncertainty—and 1 think I should be very wanting in proper feeling if I were not to express to you my gratitude for the kind way in which you waited till I was able to occupy this chair , and then were kind enough to ratify your

decision on the first occasion , and raise me to this proud position . I have said before , in Grand Lodge upstairs , that I should have been unwilling to occupy the position which I do , were it not that 1 felt that I should be supported both by Grand Officers and Grand Lodge . But

I should like to add this one remark to what I have already said , and it is , that according to our constitutions , admirable as they are , we have Grand Ollicers selected , not , as it were , from the immediate cognisance of the Grand Master , but by the recommendation of lodges in the provinces . ( Hear , hear . ) The consequence of that