Masonic Jurisprudence.

conditions ; and , last of all , certain schedules showing tbe form in which returns are to be made and certificates to be granted . Too much importance cannot be attached to the correct and conscientious filling up of the quarterly form , as ,

speaking generally , it constitutes the only available—or , at all events , the only official—record of the Masonic career of each member of the lodge . In order to save a certain amount of handwriting it is not unusual for Secretaries to make the entries

showing dates of initiation and joining only once in the case of each member . The practice is to be deprecated , inasmuch as it adds considerably to the labours of those who may in the future desire to' make reference , and moreover the saving of labour is only small .

It is distinctly laid down , Article 175 , that brethren who are in arrears of payment shall have that fact noted against them when the return is made . The Article is not a permissive one , but lays down a distinct duty , and the reason is probably that the Provincial Grand Master may see at a glance whether lodges

are acting up to their bye-laws as regards defaulting brethren . The Worshipful Master is responsible for the accuracy of this return , not the Secretary . The latter's responsibility does not extend beyond the lodge , although , as a matter of convenience , communications may be addressed to him directly .

With regard to the form of certificate , tbe Constitutions do not prescribe any particular form of words , but merely state what should be embodied in it ( Articles 203 and 213 ) . These are , first , tbe fact that all dues have been paid , and second , the

circumstances under which the brother has left the lodge . It is of course , obvious that a certificate to the former effect may be given by itself , and that the latter certificate practically involves a statement regarding the dues .

But it is generally found that a particular form of language is prescribed by each Provincial Grand Lodge , and it is in such general terms that we should imagine no lodge can take exception to it . It is necessary to speak precisely on this

subject , because there is occasionally to be found , a sort of idea that the certificate is a testimonial or a " letter dimissory , " carrying with it the lodge ' s recommendation of the brother concerned .

When , therefore , an unpopular brother withdraws from , the lodge , possibly in order to anticipate his exclusion for un-Masonic conduct , the lodge which regards the certificate in this light , hesitates to commend him to another lodge . But the

certificate which every brother , however unworthy , is entitled to under Article 213 is simply a bare statement of fact , and carries with it no expression of the lodge ' s opinion . We quote the form srcnerallv found .

'This is to certify that Brother A [ insert rank ) has ( 1 ) on this date < 2 ) satisfied all demands of the lodge and is in possession of every Masonic privilege arising from bis membership of it . " ( 1 ) or " previous to withdrawal . "

( 2 ) or " been excluded for non-compliance with the lodge bye-laws [ here specify ) . " By adhering to the printed form and employing the actual language of the Book of Constitutions the lodge clears itself from any possible suspicion of animus .

Anything further must ensue under the provisions of Article 183 , which throws the onus of admitting an unworth y brother upon the lodge he proposes to enter , and in the majority of provinces printed forms of inquiry are provided , the replies to which are considered confidential . The onus is not

only upon the lodge but upon " all members of lodges , " and , therefore , if any brother possesses information on this head which might affect the candidate ' s chances of admission , he is bound to disclose it , and in so doing be is acting in a thoroughly Masonic way . Unfortunately , brethren hesitate to act in this

manner for fear of their conduct being described as un-Masunie . The following interesting case came under the writer ' s notice quite recently . Brother A . was excluded for nonpayment of dues . He did not apply for a certificate showing the circumstances under which his connection with the lodge

was severed , and , therclore , none was issued . Some time elapsed , and he then wrote to ask wh . if his arrears amounted to , in order , as IK ; said , that he might liquidate them , and thus be supplied with the no-dues-certificate to enable him to join a lodge elsewhere . But the brethren , since his exclusion , had

been put in possession of information which led them to consider he was not a lit and proper person to join any lodge ; , and they , therefore , declined either to tell him whal his arrears were or to receive them if he paid them . In this way they practically succci ( led in pern an < Jilly ct . Uing him oil from any further conned ion with Freemasonry . ( See Article 212 . ) The lodge is acting perfectly within ils rights . It can decline lo receive money proposed to be paid to it from any source

Masonic Jurisprudence.

( other than in the case of a member paying his dues ) , and especially can it decline to receive payments from a non-member . All the aggrieved brother can do is to tender the amount of arrears —or give security—to the lodge he proposes to enter , which lodge will then have to refund the amount to the brother ' s original lodge—in the rather improbable event of their accepting him .

We now come to a consideration of the bye-laws of private lodges . Let us , first of all , see what is absolutely necessary . The Constitutions allow the utmost freedom , and the compilation of bye-laws is entirely in the hands of the lodge . Certainly they

have to undergo the scrutiny of the Provincial Grand Master and of the Grand Master , but all they claim the right of doing is of striking out anything " inconsistent with the regulations of the Grand " Lodge / ' and infercntially with the bye-laws of the Provincial Grand Lodge .

They should contain the name and number of the lodge , place , days and hours of regular meetings , dates of election and installation , regulations for the ballot , scale of fees , regulations affecting charity and refreshment funds , and , if a " class" lodge , definition of qualification for membership . Nothing more is

necessary , and in the writer ' s opinion the fewer bye-laws the better . In 18 95 the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania took into consideration the variety and contradictory character of bye-laws of lodges holding under that Constitution , and a suggestion was made in an American Masonic journal at the time—and worked out bv a writer in the Indian Masonic

Review , that a schedule of bye-laws should be adopted for compulsory use , leaving , of course , blanks where necessary . Such a proposition mig ht be considered revolutionary , but it would not be without its recommendations .

What we said about a great proportion of the provisions of provincial bye-laws , applies to fully one-half the contents of those of any private lodge—in that they are but reprints of the Book of Constitutions .

It should be remembered that any addition or alteration , or amendment of any kind , must go through exactly the same process as the original bye-laws , and has no validity until it has received the last official imprimatur .

An alteration in the name of the lodge is , of course , an alteration in the bye-laws , and so is an alteration in the place of meeting . As this latter , however , is not infrequent , special notices of the Constitutions 167-8-9 have been drawn up to deal with it .

Under these any change in the place of meeting can only be decided upon by two-thirds of the members voting on the question at a special meeting . There are also two other Articles

referring to the-place of meeting . The proprietor or manager of the tavern or house where the lodge meets may not , without dispensation , hold any office in it , although he may be a member .

Article 171 says that he shall have no hen on the property under penalty ol the lodge being erased . ¦ This Article does not , of course , affect the landlord ' s rig ht in common law to exact such security as is lawful for the payment of arrears of rent . But the lodtro lias to see that the rent

is paid , and that such lien does not accrue . Nor can a lodge borrow money on the security of its property by bill of sale or otherwise . Such occurrences are , of course , unlikely ; but still ArLicle 171 must have some meaning , and the penalty of erasure would not be suggested without very excellent reason .

Craft Masonry.

Craft Masonry .

St . Cuthbert ' s Lodge , No . 1902 . The annual meeting of the members of the above lodge was held in the new Masonic Hall , Bedlington , on the 4 th instant , Bro . S . Hare , W . M ., presiding There was a good attendince of Prov . G . Officers - » nd others , including Bros . A . E . Burdon , P . M ., P . P . S . G . W . ; R . Foggan , P . M ., P . P . G . Std . Br . ; John Charlton , P . M ., P . P . G . Std . Br . ; John Swann , P . M ., P . P . A . G . P . ; Philip Gibson , P . M ., P . P . A . G . P- ; L . Carr , P . M ., P . G . Std . Ur . ; T . Guthrie , P . M ., D . C . 559 ; A . A . Askwith , I . P . M . 6 > ATinwelland JParson

Q ; . , . . . , The lodge having been opened , after the transaction of the preliminary business of the lodge , Bro . Edward W . Carr , VV . M . elect , was installed into the chair of VV . M . tor the ensuing year , the impressive ceremony being ably given bv Bro . G . R . Turner , I . Al . i who was assisted by Bros . J . Swann , P . M ., and P . H . Gibson , P . M . The newlyinstallrd Master then invested the following brethren as his officers for the caromg vear 1 Bros . S . Hare , I . P . M . ; R . Absalom , S . W . ; R . Johnson , J . W . ; Rev . P . Rudd ,

B . A ., Chap . ; John Charltm , P . M ., Sec . ; P . H . Gibson , P . M ., lreas . ; U . Huaso " . P . M ., P . P . G . S . B ., Alminer ; Peter Dickinson , S . D . ; Isaac Barker , J . D . ; T . VV . Barker , P . M ., D . C ; R . Beadnall , Org . ; T . J . Croudace . I . G . j H . Goldsmith , Dixon , J . Wilson , and II . Patterson , Stewards ; and R . Newsome , Tyler . , oto . Charlton , on behalf of Bro . Newsome , Tyler , made an interesting presentation 01 useful articles to the lodge , which was thankfully received by the Master on b ; halt 01

the lodge . ,, ,. , The meeting shortly afterwards terminated , and adjourned to Bro . Metcalf s , cnt Turk ' s Head Hotel , where the annual banquet was held . After the removal ot tne cloth , the new VV . M ., Bro . E . W . Carr , presided . The usual loyal and Masonic toasts were given and enthusiastically received , sonffJ and recitations being given at intervals by several brethren ,