Time Immemorial Lodges.—Ii.

constituting lodges , took out a new charter in 1722 , and the remaining fourth constituting lodge was dropped altogether . Undoubtedly , in one sense , as Bro . Gould puts it , thc Lodgeof Fortitude and Old Cumberland is a time immemorial lodge , quoad Masonic history , \ n \ l nut quoad ihe Grand Lodgeof liiigl . 'iud , inasmuch as it gave up its

position in that respect . It might be , indeed , fairly contended that the lodge at Warrington , 10 pi , the lodge al t'hr-. ter ( say 11 urn ) , or the lodge in London , id . ? . ' , arc also time immemorial lodges , unlcs , indeed , they are lo be treated as occasional lodges only , summoned lor the nonce , without enduring vitalily or a local habitation and a name .

'This is a point which requires much careful attention and steady research , as on the real position and character of seventeenth century Alasonry in this country depends , in my humble opinion , the possibility of a remarkable and satisfactory history of our Order being achieved , both as regards ils regular continuation and its realistic character .

For il is quite clear , is it not ? that thc early eighteenth century Freecould noi have sprung out of nothing ; nor is it likely to be a pious fraud on the one hand , or a skilful , rather cunning adaptation on the other . If ihe old adage be true , " lix uiliilo nihil lit , " then the FVcemasonry of 1717 had an origin ; the members of the Constituting Bod ) -, the founders of the Grand Lodge of 1717 had Alasonic precursors ,

as the Scotch say , " Masonic forbears . " And it is to this question that the minds of all " Alasonic students are dircctetl just now , as it is patent on non-Masonic evidences even in lingland that a Freemasonry existed in the seventeenth century ; and the only question that remains for us lb decide is , arc the four lodges which met in 1 7 I 7 the continuation of thc older system , or did they create and take a new departure ' . ' Believing emphatically myself

that they are nothing but the former , and that t . iey revived and restored , and did not invent or create a . now system , I , as many know , have been anxiousl y seeking for some time , though the task is very hard , for all evidences of scveiitcenlh FVcemasoi . rv , and am still not without hopes , by patience and perseverance to light some day on documents , long forgotten and put away , which will give us a clue iodic tine history of FVcemasonry in this country in the seventeenth century .

Worshipful Masters.—Iii.

WORSHIPFUL MASTERS . —III .

HV BRO . A . C . I * . CAI . AMINUS . I havc read with the greatest interest the remarks made by Bros . Whytehead and Iluuhan , and am quite of the latter brother ' s opinion , vi / ., that the remedy is lo come from the lodges themselves , liven the very best systems of election ( be il that employed in Germany , or that in lingland or

France ) cannot prevent an indifferent or bad W . M . from being elected if the maj > rity of the brethren have not the good sense to see what are the requisites of a good W . M . As long as majority has to decide who is to fill the chairs , appeal has always to be made to the discrimination of the body of the lodge , and if their judgment is not sound , then no good can come of llieir election .

It so frequentl y happens that brethren fancy they have made a good selection when they have voted into the chair a man who knows his routine work well , and goes through it without too much hesitation and breakingdown , ami with a tolerable show of outward dignity . I havc , not long ago , heard a W . M . highly praised on account of his liberality in providing refreshments after lodge bonis and during them . Such men after their year of

office is over get high praise ; jewels and p ictures arc voted them ; and yet they have done their lodge and Masonry more harm than gjod . 'They have gone round and round the same eternal circle , but ihey were notable to seize the spirit of Masonry . Instead of intellectually and morally progressing with the lodge , they left it where thoy found it , and threw their lotlge back one year , because ( hcv kepi better men out of the place .

'To my mind , a W . M . ought incessantly to propose lo his lodge subjects of interest for discussion , be they intellectual , moral , or social . No event of importance in the outer world , fit for discussion in the lodge , ought to escape his atlenlion . I le ought to be scheming continually in this direction , and lay before the brethren ideas about the improvement " of our own individuality and mankind . lu ono word , he ought to be the first worker on the edifice which we are called to build . 'This is the true mission of a W . M . ; not presiding at banquets and festival :,.

But , as Bro . Ilughan rightly points out , very little of this kind of work is done in our lodges , routine work is all wc get ; hence the sad , but undeniable , fact that the best and most highly educated members of many lodges do not , as a rule , attend , and that many a man , who before his initiation had formed high notions about . Masonry , pronounces it afterwards to be a "sham" or "humbug , " and stays away in disgust . And this is because lodges are not worked as they ought lo be .

In lodge No . 17 . S 4 , to which I have ihe honour to belong , wc are trying to introduce a system of work which we hope will lead us to this ideal of a lodge , and I trust shortly to send you a paper 1 have read about the very same subject . But I think that our Provincial and Grand authorities oughl to take the lead in a movement of this sort , and set us an example by laying before the individual lodges subjects for discussion and resolutions about the many impoitant social and moral problems which arc being , and have lo be , solved .

Let me point out one great defect in the yearly elections ; it is thc fact that each VV . M . appoints his own officers . 'This induces many brethren to elect thc brother who is most likel y to give them a collar , and in lodges where a kind of turn is observed in this respect , il creates a sort of hierarchy , quite contrary lo lhc spirit of the Fraternity . I think that all officers ought to be elected b y the lodge the same as lhc W . AL I know that the Constitutions prescribe the mode of election as at present practised , and , therefore , only point out an evil without , for the present , suggesting a remedy .

No doubt ii is most necessary to keep the stains of ledges as high as possible . 'This is the life and soul of onr activity , and cannot be too strictl y observed . None but the ver ) - best men ought to be elected ; but 1 disagree with Bro . Ilughan in his suggestion that two or three members should combine to keep candidates out by means of blackballing . Such a practice ought not to prevr . il , be the object good or bad ; il is a bad practice , and the

end ought never lo justify the means . 1 have seen this system carried out in lodges where il simply served as a means to gratify personal spite and the most unworthy motives , and where it kept out of the lodge honourable and accomplished persons , who would have been an ornament lo lhc lodge . It should not be left lo the discretion of two or three to decide whether candidates are worth y or not ; anyhow , lijcy ought not to exercise their rights secretly . In every lodge , and f do not care how select il is , there arc three

Worshipful Masters.—Iii.

or more members of cantankerous and disagreeable disposition , who by this means can slop all progress , and , ultimately , simply destroy the lodge . I quite agree with the spirit of the Constitution , that ( wo or three wellfounded objections should exclude a candidate , hut I should substitute for ihe seerel ballot open voting in the lodge bv -how of hand- ; , and should <>

ivcthe VV . M ., or any brother present , a right to n-. k the biethreu objcrting ° ihe rea-. OIK ihey have for so voting . 'This , without in any way alleriog the " Constitutions as the ) - ; . laud . I have seen the meanest revenge gratified by pulling 111 a spiteful black ball , and 1 think so dangerous ii weapon ought not to be given . Fair , and above ail , open dealing ought , I think , to characterise a Alason .

Gallant Conduct Of Bro. Lieut. A. J. Lindsay.

GALLANT CONDUCT OF BRO . LIEUT . A . J . LINDSAY .

Tho following account of the heroic conduct of our brother , Lieut . A . [ . Lindsay , R . A ., P . M ., P . Z ., and now First Capl . of the Guards in the Knight Templars in Dublin , will be interesting to the members of ihe Order , and they will be pleased lo learn that he h . is been rewarded . On the morning of the 23 rd October , 1 SS 1 , it was notified to him that a ship ( George Houlton , of St , John ' s , N . B . ) was wrecked near Sutton , the

opposite side of Dublin Bay lo that of the Pigeon House Fort ; he instantl y called for volunteers , but as they had to travel over tVrcc-qu . uters of a mile along the breakwater , which is unprotected , and the waves dashing violently over it , but few of the number who lirsl stalled ever reached the boat house . Bro . Lindsay was twice washed off his legs , and had a narrow escape with his life . Nothing daunted , he pursued his course and cheered on thc men ,

and , although exhausted , they reached ihe lifeboat house . While gellimr the boat ready io slip off the carriage for launching the waves dashed ' over it and the men , who ran undercover until Bro . Liiidsay , then up to his armpils in the water , stood in much danger at the bow ' of the boat , and comminded every man lo sland fast , regardless of lhc waxes , till she was launched .

I Ic then told off the crew and volunteered to be one , and , after seeing all right , he jumped into the boat , and they were launched , and he the onl y one without a waistcoat at the lime . 'They tried hard , but in vain , to pull . He then called on the express boat , which passed them , lor a tow , but the captain did not heed him . lie then called on the steam tug " 'Toiler , " who followed up the lifeboat , and took her in tow ; but , alas ,

when four-and-a-half miles away and in the midst of thc ocean , with such mountains of sea and a terrible storm never before witnessed , the lug and lifeboat were driven asunder over 200 yards by the crest of one wave , the bollard of the lifeboat being ihcn broken , and broke ihe leg of one of the crew in two places . The lug tried to regain the lifeboat , but that vvas impossible ; thus the oars had to be taken to , but two short , as one of the crew

had to hold up tire poor wounded man . 'Then , within a quarter of a mile of the wreck , and lost to all human sight , the two boats were , like cockle shells , tcsscd lo and fro by the merciless mountains of water , and in utter hel p lessness . 'The cold was intense , and as the boat was four limes filled , and more times nearly upset , ( here was not a dry stitch on any man ; but it

was providential that the "bollard ' tlitl break at ( hat time , or ( he lifeboat would have been smashed under the tug , and none could have been raved . All were calm and collected save one man , who lost his temper , but was calmed by Bro . Lindsay , who told them that iu all cases of clanger and difficulty he put his trust in God , and lhat they were to do their best and rel y on his sure support .

Afier an absence of three and a half hours , during which the people on shore were in an anxious state of mind as 10 their safely , the gallant but disabled boat and crew came in sight , and the lug boat , damaged , also got safely back into thc river . It may be well imagined how great the storm was , when fishermen

refused to go in the lifeboat , and lhc lifeboat under the Royal Navy at Kingstown could noi venture , and when only about 300 yards from '' the Pool Beg Lighthouse , the keepers lost sight ol the boat for ten or fifteen seconds at a lime . Save a few bruises , and culs , and rheumatism , Bro . Lindsay got off with the destruction of I ir . uniform only .

On the 1 st of December lasl , Bro . lands .-y was voted the silver medals of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for his very intrepid services on that ( ccasion , and but for some mistake there is little doubt but what he would have been awarded a geld medal , and for which the citi / ens of Dublin recommended him .

On ihe 20 th ult ., a full dress parade was formed in the Royal-square , Royal Barracks . Dublin , composed of a detachment from 1 I 12 Royal Horse Artillery , Coast Brigade R . N ., Scots and Coldstream Guards , Rifle Brigade , 471 ) 1 and inolh Regiment ; Ordnance Store Corps , Coast and 'Transport Corps , 1 st Royal Dragoon Guards and Hussars , to witness the presentation of these medals by Alajor-General Lord Clarence , commanding the Dublin

District , and at which many of ihe gentry of Dublin were present , including Bro . XV . Armstrong , of Dublin ( son of the late serjeant-at-law ) , who reported lo thc Irish Times ; also Bro . Chancellor , of Dublin , who had made arrangements for a photograph to be taken ofthe Parade and our distinguished Bro , Lindsay . An account of the proceedings at the presentation will appear next week ,

J URISDICTION OF THE GR \ ND I . DIXIR . — A Grand Lodge has jurisdiction in the country or Stale where it exists , supposing il to exist lawfully . 'The jurisdiction it exercises is Alasonic , territorial , but not personal , as ; oir . e have supposed . By a commonly understood and acknowledged law of Alasonry , no Grand Lodge can exercise jurisdiction in thai Slate or land where another lawful Grand Lodge exists ; unless , indeed , any Grand

Lodge so far departs from thc landmarks of the Order as lo be prtctically not a Grand Lodge according lo all Alasonic law and precedent , or to have forfeited its right to the allegiance of ils members . Otherwise , the rule is invariable , thai no Grand Lodge has jurisdiction in the jurisdiction of another Grand Lodge . A Grand Lodge can grant a warrant for a region where Masonry does not exist , and under old arrangements , and by mutual consent , the connection

between the ori g inal Alolher Grand Lodge and ils Alasonic offspring may be perpetuated . But then , il is not every Grand Lodge which so terms itself , that is such a Grand Lodge ; and abroad , loo often , a Private Lodge assumes lhc name of a Grand Lodge , which is noi or cannot be , as a Grand Lodge must be an aggregation of Lodges governed by a head , and composed either of delegates on the pure representative system , or a partial representative system , or as with us on an hierarchical system , —Keiiiiiug ' s Cycluf'u-diii .