Contents.

CONTENTS .

LEADERS 303 Thc Table of Precedence 304 The Festival of Wednesday Next : its Chairman and his Province 304 The Forthcoming Visit of the M . W . the Grand Master to York 303 Provincial Grand Lodge of Norths , and

CORRESPONDENCE ( Continued)—Joining Members 309 On Things in General 309 A Masonic Club 309 Reviews 309 Notes and Queries 309 Roval Masonic Benevolent Institution 310

Hunts 3 ° s Provincial Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Surrey 306 Consecration of the Aldersgate Chapter , No . 1657 3 ° 6 Provincial Masonic Directories 307

Laying a Corner btone with Masonic Honours at Ilolton 310 Presentation of a Testimonial to a Liverpool Hrother 310 REPORTS OF MASOMC MEETINGSCraft Masonry 311

New Zealand 3 ° 7 CORRESPONDENCEOrderof Precedence 3 oS Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution . — The Election of Committee 309 Rebuilding the Temple 309

Instruction 313 Royal Arch 312 Mark Masonry 312 Knights Templar 312 Masonic and General Tidings 313 Lodge Meetings for Ncxt Week 314

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CALM reflection does not satisfy us , nor we fancy any of our readers , with the results of the last Quarterly Communication . We confess to-day , as we peruse the published account coolly and impartially , to a sense of imperfection and incompleteness , to a realization of confusedness , which we think must gravely strike all who are jealous of the dignity , anxious for the

" prestige" of Grand Lodge . Firstly as regards the minutes . Our excellent Bro . SANDEMAN was clearly in his right in alluding to the fact of the alteration which he mentioned , protesting against it from his point of view , and intimating his intention of calling the attention of Grand Lodge to the most serious point involved , though he could not , of course , found , if he did

seek to found , any sort of motion on the confirmation of the minutes . For not only is it never wise to " travel beyond the record , " but it was as clearly out of order , except by way of notice or motion , to raise so important a question then and there ! We do not quite follow Bro . MCINTYRE in his view of " mere correctness of minutes , " as there are certain acts done in Grand Lodge yearly

which absolutely require confirmation by the Book of Constitutions ; but we apprehend that our esteemed Grand Registrar's opening words are made to carry more than they will bear . It was only " pro hae vice , " that he meant to say , no case of needful confirmation came before Grand Lodge , and therefore Bro . SANDEMAN had no " locus standi . " With the

limitations above expressed , we agree with him . Our worthy brother , the GRAND R EGISTRAR , was not quite so happy or discriminating as is his wont , in what he went on to say as to the point of privilege . We have already conceded that since 1816 several changes have been made in the order of precedence , but we apprehend they have always been submitted to , and approved

of by Grand , Lodge , except where Grand Lodge has delegated to the Board of General Purposes the duty of making certain needful alterations in the verbiage of that special portion , and the sequence of the officers in rank . The table of precedence of 1 S 15 and 1816 , which was , if we understand Bro WILLIAMS rightly , submitted to , and approved of by , Grand Lodge , is not

identical , either in verbiage or order , with the now ruling form . From time to time alterations have been effected by the Board of General Purposes , by authority of Grand Lodge , and perhaps not submitted formally to Grand Lodge . Yet a late point deserves attention . When the PRESIDENT of the BOARD of GENERAL PURPOSES was granted rank

in Grand Lodge ( a comparatively modern appointment ) , is it not the case that such precedence was granted by motion in Grand Lodge , and not by a mandate only ? This point is most important , and deserves the closest study and attention . We regret also the apparently hurried way in which the proposal for the new buildings was

brought before Grand Lodge . Grand Lodge was , in fact , asked to hand over to the Board of General Purposes the spending of a very large sum of money , ( an hitherto unheard of proposal in Grand Lodge ) , without plans or estimates , except an approximate one , and which was in no sense likely to be " within the mark . " This clearly arose from a little want of consideration ,

and hence as an obvious consequence , there was brought about a hasty and unsatisfactory appointment of a committee , which , with every respect to its members , and with every deference to the great body of Grand Lodge , can hardly be assumed , with the most indulgent criticism , to represent the expert knowledge or energy of Grand Lodge . We naturally preferred , as

we said , the proposal of the President of the Board of General Purposes to the resolution of a " Free Lance ; " but we should have deemed it a more politic and thoughtful suggestion if the Board of General Purposes had themselves proposed a special Building Committee . What the result will be

Time can only show us ; but we feel pretty sure before hand , that such a Committee , so hastily formed , is too much "weighted from the beginning to educe a satisfactory settlement , or meet the legimate wishes of our Order , in respect , above all , of a matter requiring the greatest skill to carry out to the permanent convenience and contentment of English Freemasons .

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WE regret very much for various reasons the apparent mistake which has struck out Bro . J . SAMPSON PEIRCE from the special Committee . His pro - fessional acquirements and his technical knowledge would have enabled him to render signal services we feel sure to Grand Lodge and the Craft .

• » WE are very glad lhat our distinguished Bro . the PRO GRAND MASTER called attention to the canvassing for the Boards . This course of procedure has become a downright nuisance . This last time every one was bored with lists and "tips" and " cards , " ** et hoc genus omne , " until many

brethren declared that this " touting" for position was not only an unmitigated nuisance in itself , but a discredit to Freemasonry , and an indignity to Grand Lodge . It is customary we are aware in like bodies to have a " House List , " for which much may be said " pro and con ; " but if you allow a " House List" you must also allow an "independent list , " and

if you allow " an independent list you must also permit several " independent lists" and even " personal cards " of invitation and request . On the whole , therefore , we think it would be well and fair to all alike if the GRAND D IRECTOR OI- CEREMONIES issued an order that no such papers should be circulated by anyone inside or outside Grand Lodge . It is quite

clear that with the exception of the agenda paper and the lists ordered b y authority no one brother has a right to issue a general or individual directory or supplicatory list ; and we feel sure that it only requires a little firmness on the part of our authorities to put a stop to a state of things utterly derogatory to the decorum and character of Grand Lodge . We are so old in Masonry

that we remember a time when no lists were issued at all . We admit that " times change and we change with them , " but we are truly rejoiced to note and record , that our distinguished Bro . the PRO GRAND MASTER has expressed his entire disapproval of any such practice by any body or any brethren .

ONE of the most agreeable incidents of last Grand Lodge was the warm reception accorded to Bro . J HAVERS . Those of us who rememember his great services to English Freemasonry , the advice and aid he so long afforded his GRAND MASTER , the skilful manner in which he arranged all

the matters connected with the Grand Lodge restoration , & rc , in 1 S 63 , will rejoice to think that despite years and infirmities , the latter many and serious , he is still willing to help Grand Lodge in its present emergencies , and give to our Craft the inestimable advantage of his " Masonic knowledge and his wise counsels . " We shall trust that Bro . HAVERS means yet

to do a little more for Grand Lodge and for us all . It seems to us that owing to various conflicting causes , and from a certain " concatenation of atoms , " the rebuilding of Freemasons' Hall will demand much calm judgment and much skilful handling . If Bro . HAVERS could be induced to come forward once more and give his invaluable assistance to the Special

Committee and the Board of General Purposes , we feel convinced that not only would our highest authorities warmly hail his presence and his support , but he would confer an additional favour on that Craft , and on that great and distinguished body , the Grand Lodge of England , to both of which he has rendered such unexampled service through a long and distinguished Masonic career .

* * # WE wish to express our earnest hope that the question of the alterations in the table of precedence as regards the District Grand Masters and the Grand Chaplains may yet be reconsidered . As regards the former , the question may become a very serious one in our colonies , and though District

Grand Masters may sometimes take high rank for short services and the like , yet that matter can surely be arranged without ignoring the whole constitutional position of the District Grand Master as a representative of the Grand Master and of co-equal rank with the Provincial Grand Master . In respect to Grand Chaplains , the change is alike , we venture to think

deferentially , unwise and uncalled for . With such men as the Dean of YORK as Past Grand Chaplain , it seems most extraordinary to take an opportunity of " putting them down several pegs" that is to say below the Executive Officers . We cannot profess to understand the reason or meaning of the alteration .

* » MANY of our readers will hear with much regret of the departure from amongst us of Bro . J AMES MASON , P . G . S . B . He formerly took an active

part in the work and business of Grand Lodge , but has comparatively retired for many years , and has recently succumbed to a long , and painful , and trying illness . He was a very zealous and attached member of our Order .